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One Piece ‘Straw-Hat’ Flag Fronts Mexico’s Gen Z Protests After National Palace Clashes

Authorities portray the youth-led rallies as orchestrated by opponents.

Overview

  • In Mexico City, hooded protesters tore down barriers at the National Palace, prompting riot police to deploy tear gas.
  • Public safety chief Pablo Vázquez said 100 police were injured, including 40 hospitalized, with about 20 civilians hurt, 20 arrests made, and 20 others referred for administrative offenses.
  • Demonstrators cite anger over crime, corruption and impunity, with some participants connected to the outcry over the killing of Michoacán mayor Carlos Manzo.
  • The One Piece straw-hat Jolly Roger was highly visible at the marches, reflecting its recent adoption by youth movements in Indonesia, the Philippines, Nepal and Paris.
  • President Claudia Sheinbaum has claimed the protests are astroturfed and amplified by bots, while reporters and organizers describe a largely Gen Z-led mobilization.