November 2, 2025, in Uruapan, Mexico, residents and others mourned the loss of Uruapan city mayor and anti-cartel activist Carlos Manzo after he appeared at a Day of the Dead celebration. In response, Manzo’s supporters — mainly the Generation Z (Gen Z) population — organized numerous protests, waving banners that displayed messages signifying their frustration with crime and corruption, while his other supporters wore cowboy hats as a tribute to him for his signature look. November 4, throughout the following week, Manzo’s supporters at first aimed for peaceful protests, until a group of hooded men began to commit a variety of crimes as a response to bottled-up anger from the injustices of Mexico’s legal system. As a result, other attendants of the protest resorted to widespread violence to prove their points.
“I think the death of Carlos Manzo is expected based on past events of others who attempted to stand up against the violence. I feel like some of the government officials are involved in the corruption, but some are scared to do anything based on the huge amount of power the cartel has. But being the government of the country and their job being to ensure public safety and enforcing laws to protect the people, they have to put their foot down at some point because the people are the priority,” senior Elizabeth Baker said.
For years, the city of Michoacán has been identified as a hotspot for criminals to participate in acts of kidnapping, and residents of the city have been enduring violence constantly. November 15, days after the protests, Michoacán residents resorted to storming the National Government Palace and setting fire to the city hall as a response to how the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, handles safety regulations on city streets. As a result of the protests, authorities arrested an estimated number of 20 people for their actions. The streets continued to fill with protesters as they demanded a course of action from the government.
For years, the infamous cartels caused a profound and devastating effect on the country, creating numerous insurrections throughout cities, neighborhoods and homes. The cartel uses psychological tactics, brutal killings and public displays of victims to build fear in anyone who opposes them. To change this, Manzos wanted to create safer regulations throughout the streets and criticized Sheinbaum for her approach to crime.
“I think it’s an unfortunate situation, and they need to protest there because of all the issues that have been going on in Mexico lately. There needs to be speaking out against cartels and a resolution to that situation based on the many injuries of citizens and police officers. It’s good that younger generations are stepping up and trying to ensure that their future is protected for the next generations so they wouldn’t have to endure that in their life,” magnet sophomore William Nichols said.
The Gen Z protesters hope to achieve a safer country by demanding that the government step up by creating a safer nation for all. The reasoning for their protests consists of exacting better wages, education and healthcare. They hope to begin their plans by starting and organizing a national blockade for unsafe road conditions and demanding fair agricultural prices, which began November 24 and later settled on November 28.
