Generation Z March: Older People, Opposition Politicians, and Partisan Slogans

“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat 

With the participation of thousands of people, marches were held this Saturday by the self-proclaimed Generation Z, referring to people born between 1995 and 2012, and the "Hat March," both departing from the Angel of Independence and ending at the Zócalo. Although both marches proceeded peacefully and reached the Plaza de la Constitución, several protesters began to attack the metal barriers surrounding the National Palace, attempting to tear them down. This prompted police to fire tear gas and fire extinguishers from within the barriers.

Although organized separately, the two demonstrations shared the same schedule and route and have similar demands: rejection of the Morena party and the vindication of the figure of Carlos Manzo, the assassinated mayor of Uruapan, Michoacán.

The march, which proceeded peacefully and has now reached the Zócalo (Plaza de la Constitución), was led by the "Hat Movement," closely linked to Manzo. Behind them was the mobilization organized several days ago by the group known as Generation Z.

Chanting slogans like "Carlos didn't die, the government killed him" and "Out with Morena," the demonstrators marched along Paseo de la Reforma, many dressed in white and wearing hats like the ones Manzo used to wear.

"Carlos Manzo, hero of Mexico," "Hats yes, hugs no," and "Recall of the President" were some of the main slogans they chanted.

The people, mostly adults and some young people, waved Mexican flags, some in black and white and others with a smiling skull.

This image, alluding to the anime 'One Piece', has been taken as the banner of the Generation Z organization, one of the organizers of the march.

Although they share the same schedule and route, the Generation Z march didn’t merge with the March of the Hat, whose main demands revolve around the figure of Carlos Manzo.

A significant number of protesters directed their discontent toward the head of the Executive branch, Claudia Sheinbaum. Another constant chant among the various groups was "Out with Morena!"

Even figures like former senator Emilio Álvarez Icaza and Guadalupe Acosta Naranjo of the now-defunct PRD party attended the demonstration.

The march was monitored by several dozen riot police officers who advanced along the sides of the demonstration.

Liliana Sánchez, from the State of Mexico, stated that she decided to participate in the march to express her discontent because "the government has control of everything" and there are no "checks and balances."

She argued that "there used to be three branches of government, those three branches disappeared, and there's no way to achieve balance." She criticized the Morena party for having recruited figures from the PRI and PAN parties.

“It’s another PRI, but a thousand times worse. It has people from other parties who joined Morena to continue stealing and perpetuate this system that has always been corrupt.”

Upon entering the Zócalo plaza, a group of hooded youths with megaphones called on people not to touch the smiling skull flag displayed on the ground. They threatened to surround anyone who did.

Once in the country's main square, several young people managed to climb the metal barriers protecting the National Palace, while other protesters banged on the barriers amid shouts of “Yes, we can!” There were also shouts of repudiation against those who climbed the barriers, with slogans like “You don’t represent me!” and “Out with the hooded ones!”

From inside the metal barrier, they began throwing gas, apparently from fire extinguishers. Rocket explosions can also be heard.

Several protesters have begun repeatedly banging on the metal barriers with their hands and fists. Meanwhile, another group of hooded youths are using hammers, and five young people have started climbing the three-meter-high barriers. Some of the protesters are even carrying angle grinders, which they are using to try to break the joints between the barriers and open them up.

In response, police officers on the other side of the barriers used fire extinguisher powder to push back the protesters, as the sound of projectiles being thrown by a group of hooded youths dressed in black can be heard. These youths continue to hit the metal barriers and try to break their joints with angle grinders or wire cutters. Other march attendees are urging them not to resort to "acts of violence" that, in their opinion, could undermine today's demonstration.

From inside the barricades, police continue to fire extinguisher spray and even small, circular, flaming objects that emit a lot of smoke. Tear gas is also being used.

Around 12:45 PM, protesters managed to open a gap in the metal fence protecting the plaza, which in turn intensified the police's use of tear gas.

All of this is happening amidst chants and even with people playing Molotov's song "Gimme the Power" through loudspeakers. In the already tense atmosphere, a person was accused of stealing a cell phone and was beaten by several protesters.

The violent acts in front of the National Palace have now lasted for nearly an hour.

Intermittently, a group of hooded individuals continues to strike the barriers with hammers and other objects, and they are also throwing explosive devices.

They even used an electric saw on the welded-on sections of the barriers to try to bring them down. On the other side of the barriers, police have fired tear gas at least three times, causing eye irritation.

The Generation Z contingents and the Hat March, which have mingled, are retreating intermittently, moving away from the metal barriers.

After several attempts, those dressed in black managed to knock down one of the three-meter-high barriers, but police blocked that point with their access points to prevent the protesters from entering. Five minutes later, the demonstrators removed two more metal plates on the right side of the National Palace.

This intensified the throwing of tear gas, stones, and flaming spheres from inside the police barricade.

After the three barriers were torn down, dozens of police officers emerged from inside to form a second wall with their shields, as the protesters were about to topple more metal blocks.

This led to a standoff where the officers threatened the crowd, causing the protesters to retreat, but then they regrouped and moved closer to the area where the metal 

Sources: La Jornada, Plaza de la Constitución Street View,  Eric Daugherty,   Borderland Beat Archives