The march of the self-proclaimed Generation Z held this Thursday in Mexico City gathered barely two hundred people, with a minimal presence of young people due, as they explained to EFE, to fear, the repression they experienced, and the road closures that prevented access.
This was indicated Neptali Roa, 29, pointed out that “the repression last Saturday (…) and the massive closure of subway stations to prevent people from arriving" are the reasons for the low turnout of protesters. "The government is afraid of its people because it doesn't want to listen to them and because it doesn't want to face the reality that is leading us down this path," explained Roa, one of the few young people who marched. The route was blocked by police as they attempted to reach the city center while waiting for the traditional military parade commemorating the 1910 Mexican Revolution to conclude. The simultaneous occurrence of both demonstrations had generated concern in Mexico about possible unrest after last Saturday's protest resulted in approximately 20 police officers and 100 civilians injured. However, the Generation Z demonstration began without incident and with a small turnout at the Angel of Independence on Paseo de la Reforma, continuing to the Glorieta de The Women Who Fight march, where a large number of police officers blocked their path until the parade ended.
Among the protesters, a 57-year-old woman covered with a scarf from the series 'One Piece' who wished to remain anonymous "out of fear," stated that "the country is not as good as they say."
She therefore asked politicians to "live in the present and not the past, and stop blaming each other (...). We have to fix our Mexico, please."
During the short march, the protesters shouted "The people united will never be defeated!" and "We want protection, not repression!"
Angel Morales, 16, Another of the few teenagers present explained that what they are seeking “is change.” “We are not associated with any party or association.We simply want a better future for ourselves,” he stated. The movement, which claims to have no partisan affiliation, published a document demanding greater popular representation in Congress, a fight against corruption, and the strengthening of local security with citizen oversight amidst the wave of violence perpetrated by organized crime in certain parts of Mexico. “As citizens, we have to organize ourselves and prevent this from continuing (…).” “I'm not a politician, I'm not a strategist, I'm a citizen, but what's needed is decent people governing, and there aren't any,” lamented Jorge Reyes, 58. As a show of prudence, the Ministry of National Defense (Sedena) modified the route of the November 20th civic-military parade on Tuesday, shortening its route. The traditional military parade commemorates the event that began the Mexican Revolution on November 20, 1910, and was originally scheduled to start at the Zocalo in Mexico City and end at Campo Militar Marte, covering a large part of downtown Mexico City. EFE
