Mexican activists flooded the streets of Mexico City this week in massive demonstrations against what they call a narco-state, directly challenging President Claudia Sheinbaum in what has become her first major test as Mexico’s leader. 

The protests are fueled by anger over cartel violence, political assassinations, and alleged government complicity. Over the last two weeks, the demonstrations have escalated into violent clashes, as thousands demand decisive action against organized crime.

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Outcry Against Narco-State Reaches the Capital

What began as a peaceful march through Mexico City quickly turned volatile. Demonstrators — a diverse cross-section of Mexican society, “from the upper class to the lower class, from old to young.” 

Protestors pushed through metal barricades erected to block access to the National Palace. Police responded with tear gas and stun grenades as protesters surged toward the historic Zócalo.

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“It’s clear they’re not leaving,” one reporter observed as crowds pressed forward. “They say they want the pact they believe exists between the narcos and the government to end today.”

Many young organizers described the government as a narcogobierno, accusing federal leaders of enabling cartels through inaction or corruption.

The Murder That Sparked a Movement

The outrage intensified after the November 1 assassination of Carlos Manzo, mayor of Uruapan, Michoacán. Manzo, known for confronting organized crime, had openly declared war on local traffickers.

“We’re going to shoot first and ask questions later,” he said in one fiery speech, vowing to use helicopters and armed police to dislodge cartel forces.

He was gunned down on the Day of the Dead, in front of a crowd in his own town. Protests erupted immediately and soon spread nationwide.

“They were asking for justice,” one activist said. “They wanted those responsible to be held accountable.”

Pressure Mounts on Claudia Sheinbaum

President Claudia Sheinbaum, who took office in October 2024 as Mexico’s first woman president, now faces rising criticism over cartel violence and a wave of high-profile murders.

Opponents accuse her administration of tolerating criminal groups and failing to back local leaders who resist them. Although her approval rating remains high, around 70%, the latest unrest poses a growing political threat.

Critics also point to her rejection of U.S. military assistance earlier this year, offered by former President Donald Trump to help combat cartels.

U.S. Secretary of State Rubio recently reiterated American willingness to support Mexico, saying, “There are many types of things we can do if they ask us to.” He warned that journalists, judges, and politicians remain vulnerable in regions where cartels “are more powerful than local and national forces.”

Despite the violence, Rubio noted that bilateral cooperation “is at its highest point in history.”

Future of the Narco-state Unknown

As demonstrations reached the National Palace, some protesters demanded President Sheinbaum’s resignation, accusing her of protecting cartels or failing to confront them.

“They say they’re done with this narco-state,” one observer noted, “and they want the government to take a much stronger stance against organized crime.”

With pressure intensifying and the streets still filled with angry citizens, Mexico faces one of its most serious internal crises in years — one that will shape the future of Sheinbaum’s presidency and the country’s fight against cartel power.