Background and Key Players
On Sunday, hundreds of indigenous community members and young people took to the streets along Insurgentes Sur in Tlalpan, Mexico City, to protest against gentrification. The demonstrators chanted slogans such as “housing for living, not investing,” “we are not a hotel, we are an ancestral neighborhood,” and “the gringos gentrify, and the government sponsors it.” The majority of the protesters were young individuals who set off from the Fuentes Brotantes Metrobús station around 3:30 PM, heading towards El Caminero.
Gentrification Concerns
Prior to the march, protesters displayed a banner stating “closed due to ecocide in the construction of Fuentes Brotantes 134 housing development” in Tlalpan alleging it poses a risk to the community and will negatively impact basic services like water supply for local residents. The Agrupación Juvenil Anticapitalista, present at the march, highlighted the contradiction of local and federal governments prioritizing funding for weapons and militarization while neglecting essential social needs like housing.
Opposition to Upcoming FIFA World Cup
The protesters also expressed their disapproval of the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City, claiming it will increase the arrival of foreigners and lead to exploitation through short-term rental platforms. One participant from the Unión de la Juventud Revolucionaria de México emphasized the critical moment of gentrification across various parts of the country, noting displacement through rising rents, services, and items, as well as violent evictions of families from their homes.
Clashes During the Protest
As the protesters reached El Caminero, they began their return journey to Ciudad Universitaria. Although the march was mostly peaceful, tensions escalated near the Perisur Metrobús station when members of the black bloc, who joined the protest, vandalized property and launched smoke bombs at the police force securing the demonstration. This led to many indigenous protesters and elderly residents leaving the march.
Final Actions
Eventually, the protest was composed solely of young individuals who entered Ciudad Universitaria heading towards the Museo Universitario de Arte Contemporáneo (MUAC), where they vandalized the building’s facade and burned some of their banners.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is gentrification? Gentrification refers to the process where lower-income neighborhoods experience increased property values and living costs, often leading to displacement of original residents.
- Who are the key players in this protest? The protesters include indigenous community members and young people from Tlalpan, Mexico City, who are against both local government policies and the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- What are their main concerns? Their primary concerns revolve around affordable housing, preservation of ancestral neighborhoods, and opposition to the exploitation of short-term rentals fueled by events like the World Cup.
- What led to the clashes during the protest? Tensions escalated due to vandalism and confrontations between protesters and police forces, causing some original participants to leave the demonstration.
