March against police brutality turns violent in Mexico City

Protests in Mexico City to demand justice for police brutality in the country turned violent with the destruction of public property and several commercial premises.

The around 100 protesters on Monday toured the iconic Paseo de la Reforma avenue in the capital's centre – from the Angel of Independence to the Zocalo plaza – to demand justice for the death of Giovanni Lopez after his arrest in May and the alleged assault of a young woman by police on June 5, reports Efe news.

The 16-year-old, identified as Melanie, was allegedly beaten by police officers in Mexico City during a march over the death of Lopez in police custody after he was reportedly detained over not wearing a mask.

The protesters on Monday threatened the media present, asking them not to film, and even threw stones and sprayed fire extinguishers and paint at camera persons and photographers.

Due to this and to the lack of banners or flags that would identify organizing groups, as well as the refusal of the participants to speak publicly, the media were not able to understand the demands of the march and had to maintain distance from more violent groups.

The demonstrators looted bank branches, food stores and other commercial premises, and demolished the barriers that protected buildings such as the Palace of Fine Arts or the Guardiola building of the Bank of Mexico.

However, after reaching Zocalo plaza, the march dispersed after some members asked that no more looting be committed.

They did not issue any explanatory manifesto about their intentions or the demands of the march.

Members of Marabunta group, the city's National Human Rights Commission and some officials from the capital's government were present during the march and although they did not stop the destruction, managed to avoid confrontations.

The march was the result of alleged police brutality towards Melanie, who received blows to her head and body on June 5 during the protest organized against police violence in the case of Lopez.

Lopez died a month ago but the case came to light last week after a video was shared on social media showing police officers with assault rifles forcing the 30-year-old bricklayer into a pickup truck in the town of Ixtlahuacan de Los Membrillos, 40 kim from Guadalajara.

His family later tracked him down in hospital, dead with a bullet wound to the foot. An autopsy revealed he died of blunt trauma to the head.

Social media platforms were flooded with the hashtag #JusticiaParaGiovanni (#JusticeForGiovanni), mirroring the protests over the death of George Floyd in the USs.

At the end of the march, a group broke away from the main congregation and went to the premises of the Mexico City Attorney General's Office, where they broke the windows of the building.

( With inputs from IANS )