A rally organized by the so-called 'Generation Z' movement against the government of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, on Avenida Reforma in Mexico City, November 20, 2025. YURI CORTEZ / AFP
Just a few meters from a street vendor hawking unofficial flags from the Japanese manga One Piece for about €1.50, Emanuel Montecristo, a 28-year-old construction worker, demanded that the wall of police officers in front of him allow through a crowd of around 100 protesters gathered on Thursday, November 20, in Mexico City to denounce corruption and insecurity.
The young protester returned to Mexico City’s downtown — more than two hours from his neighborhood on the outskirts of the city — to express his anger. With his face hidden behind his T-shirt, he explained that his mother used to run a small pharmacy, but was forced to close it after receiving death threats from extortionists. "We went to the police, but they told us the threat wasn't serious. I had to go into hiding, afraid they would kill me," he said.
Five days earlier, on Saturday, November 15, Montecristo joined the first protest of his life: a rally organized by "Generation Z" on social media, especially TikTok, to protest against President Claudia Sheinbaum's government. He still had a burn on his abdomen from a firecracker thrown by a police officer when law enforcement violently dispersed the protesters, leaving 120 injured – including 84 police officers and six journalists – and 40 arrests.
