by Ildefonso Ortiz and Brandon Darby
Rioters in Mexico City trashed cafes and looted stores in ritzy neighborhoods as they protested against tourism and foreigners who migrated there from the U.S. and Europe.
The issue began on Friday when hundreds of protesters took to the streets in the Reforma and Condesa neighborhoods in Mexico City. The protesters claimed that foreigners were driving up the cost of living and that they refused to learn Spanish. However, as the protests continued, masked activists turned to looting and vandalism, trashing cafes and looting various stores.
Rioters also assaulted various individuals who tried to interfere and spray-painted walls; they also destroyed city signs and structures.
In the aftermath of the riots, Mexico City’s government issued a statement condemning the riots. In the statement, city officials claimed that while a right to protest is protected, violence is not.