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New Delhi: At least 120 people, 100 out of which were reportedly police officers, have been injured in anti-government protests that are currently going on in Mexico City. Saturday saw thousands of protesters rising against President Claudia Sheinbaum's government. It was not just the capital, but many other cities also saw similar marches, which the government claims have been funded by opposition right-wing politicians.
The protests were reportedly organised by Gen Z youth groups. The protesters claim they are protesting against high-profile killings, including the assassination just weeks ago of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo, who had recently called for tough action against cartels. Many of the protesters have claimed to be dissatisfied with the way the government is dealing with the problem of the drug cartels. While action is being taken, they claim that unlike the previous governments there has been no all out war to dismantle the cartels.
As part of the protests, parts of a barrier protecting the National Palace where President Sheinbaum lives was dismantled. Police protecting it then proceeded to use tear gas on the crowds. Authorities have arrested 20 people for crimes including robbery and assault, as informed by Mexico City security chief Pablo Vazquez. Protesters waved banners displaying messages including, "We are all Carlos Manzo", while others wore cowboy hats in tribute to him.
The phenomenon of GenZ protests is slowly taking over the world. While the young have always been associated with the tendencies of revolt, the current generation of youngsters is acting out on their revolutionary tendencies in full spirit around the world.
Perhaps this was best exemplified in Nepal, where after the government banned access to several social media sites in September, youngsters over the street. The social media ban though was later said to be only the final straw, with discontent against the government building up for way too long before that. As a result of the massive protests that rocked the country, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli was forced to flee the country, and wife of former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal, Rabi Laxmi Chitrakar, died after sustaining critical injuries when their home in Dallu was set on fire amid ongoing unrest.
Similar Gen Z protests were also seen in Indonesia, after which the country’s President, Prabowo Subianto was forced to replace five ministers of his cabinet, including the country’s Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Budi Gunawan, the coordinating minister for politics and security.
Another recent example is from Bangladesh. Last year in July the country saw major student protests erupting all over. Seen as a reaction against a job quota system that protesters said was disproportionately benefiting the descendants of Bangladesh’s 1971 liberation war fighters. Protests against this soon turned violent, leading to an all-out uprising against the government that ultimately led to the then-prime minister, Sheikh Hasina’s fleeing to India.
