After Nepal, Morocco, Gen Z sparks MASSIVE protest in US’s neighbouring country due to…, mayor’s assassination…

Thousands of people on Saturday poured onto the streets of Mexico, the US’s neighboring nation, to protest growing crime, corruption, and impunity in a protest organized by members of Generation Z, as reported by AP. This year, a protest against inequality, democratic backsliding, and corruption was organized by members of the demographic known as “Gen Z,” i.e., people born in the late 1990s through the early 2010s, in various countries around the world.

What triggered the massive Gen Z protests in the U.S.’s neighboring country?

The largest “Gen Z” protests this year occurred in Nepal in September, after the government temporarily prohibited the use of social media, which led to the resignation of the country’s prime minister. In Mexico, many young people indicated that they are upset and frustrated by systemic issues, such as corruption and violence, where perpetrators are not held accountable.

Speaking of Morocco, Young people joining Generation Z were frustrated by corruption, a lack of job opportunities, and government extravagance. In Morocco, there is growing public outrage directed at the disparity between the government’s extravagant expenditure on stadiums in preparation for the 2030 FIFA World Cup and the country’s poorly-performing healthcare system in relation to similarly sized economies, as reported by The Independent.

Why are Gen Z protesters demanding action?

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum maintains a high level of approval ratings despite a recent wave of prominent killings, including a well-known mayor in Michoacán, a western state. In the days leading up to Saturday’s protests, Sheinbaum accused right-wing parties of trying to infiltrate the Gen Z–led movement and also of utilizing bots on social media to inflate turnout, as reported by the AP.

This week, some “Gen Z” social media influencers indicated that they no longer supported Saturday’s protests. At the same time, elderly voices, including former President Vicente Fox and Mexican billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego, posted messages supporting the protests.

The Saturday’s march included people of multiple generations, with supporters of Michoacan Mayor Carlos Manzo, who was killed recently, attending in the straw hats worn to symbolize his political movement.

The murder of Mayor Carlos Manzo has shocked the nation. Not only did Manzo speak out against drug cartels, but he also called for an aggressive response to these criminal organizations. Young activists see his death as a symbol of the failure of government policies, and that is why Gen Z called for this rally — for young people to come together and raise their voices together.

The Mexican police deployed tear gas in certain areas to break up the crowds during the protest. Protesters destroyed security barriers outside the National Palace. It is also important to note that the National Palace is the home of the president, which contributed to the more aggressive tactics employed by the security forces. Nevertheless, the crowd kept chanting slogans against corruption and violence within the security perimeter.

Who is Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez?

According to the Newsweek report, the authorities have stated that Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez, the Mayor of Uruapan, was shot seven times in public during Day of the Dead festivities on Saturday and passed away shortly after arriving at the local hospital. Officials added the shooter was killed at the scene and two suspects were arrested.

Manzo was running on an anti-corruption and anti-cartel platform. He was known for wearing a bulletproof vest and for publicly challenging organized crime in a state with deep ties to organized crime. Protests erupted throughout the state and in the Michoacán capital of Morelia beginning Sunday.