Tens of Thousands of Mexicans Demand Ouster of President Pena Nieto teleSUR
go to original January 8, 2017

Mexico: Thousands protest against gas prices, call for Pena's resignation (Ruptly TV)

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of several cities across Mexico to once again demand the resignation of embattled President Enrique Peña Nieto over the so-called “gasolinazo,” a price hike of more than 20 percent on gasoline that has hit the country's poorest communities.

The biggest demonstrations are taking place in the country’s three main cities: Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara, but mass rallies have also been registered in the central states of Puebla, Queretaro, Morelos as well as the northern territories of Chihuahua and Baja California.

Chanting “Peña out,” many of the protesters gathered in the cities main boulevards. In Mexico City, people marched from the iconic Independence monument toward the main Zocalo square.

Mexican President's Residence Gets Trolled on Google Maps: The name of Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto's residence called the Official Residence of Los Pinos has been changed to the Official Residence of Corruption on Google Maps by an apparent hacker, sparking laughter among social media users. (Twitter)

The demonstrations were organized by several political and civil organizations through social media. Largely peaceful, they come on the back of looting and clashes between protesters and security forces over the past 10 days, which have left at least six people dead and 1,500 arrested. Authorities report that at least 300 stores have been looted across the country.

There have also been accusations that looting and vandalism have been led by "infiltrated" groups, in a move intended to create chaos in the country and undermine the protests, setting the basis for the targeting of activists. According to La Jornada, the government has paid young "saboteurs" US$50 in order to conduct criminal actions during the protests.

But unrest over the rising cost of living in Latin America's second-largest economy is real and people have poured into the streets to reject the government of Peña Nieto, who has become Mexico's most unpopular president in a quarter of a country century.

Read the rest at teleSUR

Related: Mexico Protests: How Gas Prices Lit The Flame Under a Quietly Smoldering Rage (The Guardian)

Related: Mexican Church Calls for Calm Amid Gas-Price Protests (CatholicPhilly,com)

Related: In Pictures: Mass Protests Against Mexico Gas Price Hikes Enter Second Week (teleSUR)

Related: Mexico 'Gasolinazo' Protesters Take Over Customs at US Border (teleSUR)

Related: Mexican Protester Drives Truck Into Police Line, Injuring 4 Amid Gas Price Protests (The Associated Press)

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