Mexicans Have Another Anti-Cartel Protest — But Is Anything Going To Significantly Change?

MEXICO CITY, Mexico — There was less tension in the air on Sunday as a few hundred protesters silently marched from the Angel of Independence to the outskirts of the historic center of Mexico’s capital.

Barely a month ago, tens of thousands marched the same route, audibly angry over the cartel killing of Mayor Carlos Manzo, and went to the National Palace. It did not take long before a riot broke out that lasted for hours. Rocks were thrown, tear gas was used by Mexican police, and the National Palace’s security wall was torn down.

No major acts of violence were repeated on Sunday. While Mexicans are still upset over cartel violence and government corruption, it seems the street fury over Manzo’s killing is largely over. That does not mean last month’s high-profile assassination won’t have long-lasting effects, but with the anger having simmered down a little bit with the passage of time, can the ruling Morena party continue on business as usual?

As previously mentioned, the attitude of the march that took place this weekend was significantly different compared to November. There were no large lines of riot police walking alongside the protesters, some businesses along the route temporarily closed, but almost none boarded up their windows. It is almost as if everyone expected the outcome to be completely different compared to November 15th.

The only significant clash was between a few protesters and supporters of President Claudia Sheinbaum, from what I could gather.

WATCH:

The Mexican government’s response to Manzo’s assassination has resulted in arrests, but it has also been met with mixed results as the new security plan championed by Sheinbaum has come under criticism. Manzo’s widow, who is the new mayor of Uruapan, said she has received complaints from locals of extortion by the new security forces. The issue of extortion by criminal groups is wide-reaching in the country and was something Manzo spoke against before his death.

What was interesting…