Explained | Latest ‘Gen Z protests’: What was the trigger in Mexico?

Sheinbaum has claimed that the demonstrations were funded by right-wing leaders who oppose her party, Morena.

What led to the protests in Mexico?

The immediate trigger was the killing of Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez, the mayor of the city of Uruapan, in Michoacan state, November 1. Rodríguez had led a crackdown against drug cartels in the state.

High rates of crime, often fuelled by gangwars among drug cartels, have remained a persistent problem in Mexico. While Sheinbaum, who came to power last year, remains popular, her government is seen by some as not doing enough to improve the security situation in the country.

In the months before he was killed, Rodríguez had appealed to Sheinbaum on social media for greater help to fight drug cartels and other criminals. In June, Michoacán had seen another high-profile murder when Salvador Bastidas, mayor of Tacámbaro, was killed along with his bodyguard.

After the killing of Rodríguez, whose tough stance against crime had won him many followers, a group called “Generation Z Mexico” gave a call for protests on social media. In its “manifesto”, the group said it is “non-partisan and represents Mexican youth that are fed up with violence, corruption and abuse of power”, according to Reuters.

The marches, in around 50 cities, were attended by people of all age groups. The pirate skull flag that has been seen at Gen Z protests across geographies was spotted at these rallies too. With its origins in Manga or Japanese comics, the flag represents standing up to corrupt authority figures.

How bad is the state of crime in Mexico?

Violence has been rife in Mexico since the 1980s. According to the think tank Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), the country “faces a crisis of kidnappings, disappearances, and other criminal violence that has left over thirty-thousand people dead each year since 2018. Gangs and drug cartels largely perpetrate this violence, but the state has also committed human rights violations in its war against these groups.”

In 2006, under former President Felipe Calderon, the Mexican government unleashed the military against criminal organisations. However, some experts say that only ended up worsening the conflict.

The history of unsuccessful government campaigns is one of the reasons Sheinbaum has resisted calls for the use of more force against criminal gangs.

According to CFR, “After campaigning on a promise to curb Mexico’s rampant violence, Sheinbaum has indicated that her administration will continue her predecessor’s “hugs, not bullets” approach”, focusing on increasing intelligence and investigative work to fight crime.