Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Mexico City on Saturday, expressing their dissatisfaction with violent crime and the actions of the Sheinbaum government.
Sheinbaum noted that the protests taking place in other cities were supported by right-wing political forces opposing her administration.
The rally was organized by Generation Z youth groups who united with citizens outraged by high-profile murders, including the recent killing of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo, who had called for decisive action against the cartels.
Demonstrators removed some barriers at the National Palace, where Sheinbaum resides. In response, the police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
According to Mexico City Security Chief Pablo Vasquez, the police arrested 20 people on charges of robbery and assault.
Participants held signs with slogans such as "We are all Carlos Manzo," and some wore cowboy hats in his honor.
Manzo was killed on November 1 during a festival celebrating the Day of the Dead.
He became known for his bold statements about drug trafficking in his region and cartel violence.
The politician insisted on tough measures against gangs terrorizing the country.
Sheinbaum is making efforts to combat drug cartels but rejects calls for a new total war on drugs, considering the bloody consequences of past attempts by her predecessors.
Shortly before the protests began, the president stated that the demonstration was being promoted by online bots.
"We support freedom of speech and the right to protest if the youth have demands, but it is important to understand who is behind the organization of this demonstration," she said at a press conference.
"People should be aware of how this event was organized to prevent manipulation."
Despite criticism for failing to stop the violence, Sheinbaum maintains an approval rating above 70% in her first year in office, and she has achieved successes in combating the illegal fentanyl trade, which is an important issue for her American counterpart Donald Trump.
However, she faces growing criticism for ineffectiveness in addressing the violence problem in the country and deteriorating relations with neighboring states.
Earlier this month, the Congress of Peru voted to declare Sheinbaum a persona non grata in the country.
This decision came shortly after the severing of diplomatic relations between Peru and Mexico, which occurred due to the granting of asylum to a former Prime Minister of Peru accused of attempting a coup in 2022.
