Enough of Abuses and Omissions”: Violent Protests Erupt Across Michoacán After Anti-Crime Mayor Assassinated During Day of the Dead Celebration

 

MORELIA, MEXICO — Widespread unrest has shaken the Mexican state of Michoacán after the assassination of Uruapan’s anti-crime mayor, Carlos Manzo, who was gunned down during a public Day of the Dead event over the weekend. His killing — alongside the recent murder of citrus growers’ leader Bernardo Bravo Manríquez — has ignited a wave of outrage against what residents describe as years of government failure to confront organized crime.

The protests began Sunday in Morelia, the state capital, under the rallying cry “¡Basta de abusos y omisiones!” (“Enough of abuses and omissions!”). Demonstrations quickly turned violent, with protesters storming the Government Palace and setting fires. Authorities have confirmed eight arrests so far.

By Tuesday, the unrest spread to Apatzingán, where the city hall was torched by what local officials described as “shock groups whose objectives are far from the true construction of peace.”

Assassination Sparks Outrage

Mayor Carlos Manzo, known for his uncompromising stance against drug cartels and corruption, was shot shortly after livestreaming a Day of the Dead ceremony. The gunman — a 17- to 19-year-old suspect believed to be working for an organized crime group — was killed at the scene.

Manzo had become a local symbol of defiance, often appearing in videos wearing a bulletproof vest and cowboy hat, vowing zero tolerance for criminals. In one May video, he told police:

“Any criminal who is armed and resists arrest or attacks citizens — take them down. There should be no leniency.”

The mayor’s social media frequently called out President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration for failing to protect Michoacán’s communities, urging federal authorities not to “leave Uruapan alone” in the fight against cartel violence.

Years of Bloodshed and Abandonment

For nearly two decades, Michoacán has been one of the epicenters of Mexico’s narco-war, beginning with former President Felipe Calderón’s 2006 military campaign. The state’s fertile lands and ports have made it a key battleground between rival cartels and self-defense groups.

In 2025 alone, official figures show 1,024 homicides between January and September, making Michoacán the seventh most violent state in Mexico. Independent observers say the true number — especially those tied to organized crime — is far higher.

Public Fury and Political Fallout

Many protesters blame both local and federal authorities for what they see as years of neglect, corruption, and complicity. “We’re tired as a people,” one demonstrator shouted in Morelia, while another, referencing Manzo and Bravo, cried, “For Carlos, for Bernardo, for all who have fallen — enough!”

President Sheinbaum, addressing the killing in her morning press conference, pledged “justice and truth” and announced a new “Plan for Peace and Justice in Michoacán.” The initiative includes more federal troops, social programs, and infrastructure investment — a strategy critics say repeats the failed militarization policies of past administrations.

David Mora of the International Crisis Group criticized the plan, noting that “sending more troops in is what they’ve been doing in Sinaloa for the past year — and violence there hasn’t decreased.”

As Michoacán burns in grief and anger, many fear Manzo’s death could mark a turning point — either toward long-overdue reform or deeper descent into chaos. For now, the message from the streets is clear: the people of Michoacán are done waiting for peace that never comes.