Mexico has been shaken by a powerful new wave of anti-corruption protests, overwhelmingly driven by young people and sparked by the early November assassination of Carlos Manzo, an anti-cartel mayor whose killing has become a symbol of state failure and unchecked criminal power. While Mexico is no stranger to demonstrations against violence or impunity, the scale, coordination, and generational makeup of the latest protests mark a significant escalation-placing Mexico firmly within a growing global movement of youth-led uprisings against entrenched corruption.

On November 15, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Mexico City, marching from the capital’s central districts toward the National Palace in a unified demand for justice and security. Similar protests erupted simultaneously in 50 cities across 30 states, underscoring the nationwide resonance of Manzo’s death and the deep frustration felt by citizens who perceive the government as either unwilling or unable to confront the country’s violent criminal organizations.

Carlos Manzo, the mayor of Uruapan-a city long dominated by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG)-was known for his confrontational stance toward organized crime. Local sources reported that he had repeatedly appealed for protection from both state and federal authorities before his assassination on November 1. His killing, allegedly carried out by a teenager recruited by CJNG during Día de los Muertos celebrations, delivered a chilling message: in cartel-controlled regions, not even public office provides safety.

Manzo’s death struck a nerve across Mexico, especially among younger generations who have grown up under the shadow of cartel violence........

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