Violence during a march in Mexico City and the upcoming repatriation of six Mexicans who were detained by Israeli forces were among the issues President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke about at her Monday morning press conference.
Here is a recap of the president’s Oct. 6 mañanera.
Sheinbaum questions purpose of violence during Oct. 2 march
A reporter asked the president whether her government had identified the perpetrators of the acts of violence that were committed in Mexico City last Thursday during the annual march to commemorate the 1968 Tlatelolco massacre.
“Firstly, [there was] a lot of provocation,” Sheinbaum said.
“What is the point of this violence? … There were even Molotov cocktails. What’s the point? Who benefits from it? That is what we need to ask ourselves,” she said without answering the reporter’s question.
“What was this group with covered faces looking for? What do they want? Why do they do these … [acts of violence] in a city of freedoms, of full freedom, absolute and complete freedom? What do they want? What were they seeking? A confrontation — from my point of view — with the police,” Sheinbaum said, asserting that the troublemakers wanted another “October 2,” the date on which the Mexican military perpetrated the 1968 massacre.
“… We don’t agree, we’re never going to agree with violent demonstrations,” she said.
“… You can disagree with the government, but this aggression toward people, toward journalists has to be reviewed,” Sheinbaum said, adding that the Mexico City Attorney General’s Office has to open an investigation and identify those responsible for the violence.
Sheinbaum calls out ‘very offensive’ social media post by prominent businessman
Sheinbaum noted that on the same day as the Mexico City march, Claudio X. González, a prominent businessman and government critic, made a “very offensive” post on social media.
Last Thursday night, González posted a computer-generated image to X that showed former president Gustavo Díaz Ordaz sporting Sheinbaum’s trademark ponytail.
Díaz Ordaz was the president of Mexico when the Tlatelolco massacre occurred.
Above the doctored image, González wrote: “Authoritarianism in 1968, Authoritarianism in 2025.”
Sheinbaum said that it was “very important” that Mexico City police didn’t succumb to the violence “provocations” during last Thursday’s march because if they had done so, “they would have fueled” the “narrative” that her government is authoritarian and represses dissent with force.
Sheinbaum: Mexicans detained by Israel will return to Mexico this week
Sheinbaum told reporters that her government, via its ambassador to Israel, is in “permanent contact” with six Mexicans who were taken to Israel last week after Israeli forces intercepted the boats on which they were traveling as part of a flotilla that was carrying aid bound for the war-torn Gaza Strip.
Sheinbaum calls for immediate return of Mexicans detained by Israel
She said that Mexico is seeking their prompt repatriation before asserting that the six Mexicans — who were placed in detention in Israel — would in fact return to Mexico this week.
She said that her government would disclose the details of their return to Mexico at a later date.
Later on Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) said that Mexico’s ambassador to Israel, Mauricio Escanero, had once again carried out a consular visit to the Mexicans held at the Ktzi’ot Prison.
“They were given information about their upcoming repatriation to Mexico, for which authorization has already been obtained from the Israeli government and which will be carried out in coordination with our embassies in the region,” the SRE said.
By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies ([email protected])
