GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Approximately 10,000 protesters took to the streets this Sunday to demonstrate against the severe water crisis plaguing the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area (ZMG). The demonstrators denounced the poor quality of the water reaching their homes, reporting sediment and unpleasant odors.
Protesters carried banners with slogans such as, “If the government wants to wash its hands, let it do so with the water that reaches the citizens,” and “No sewage water. No privatization. No corruption.”
According to footage shared on social media, the protesters gathered at La Minerva in Guadalajara before marching through various routes to the official residence of Governor Pablo Lemus, known as Casa Jalisco. During the march, some individuals with their faces covered reportedly threw stones at uniformed officers, leading to clashes with police near the governor’s home. Authorities confirmed that at least 39 people were detained.
The unrest follows a significant policy shift announced on October 8, when Governor Lemus submitted an initiative to the State Congress to construct a new Chapala-Guadalajara substitute aqueduct. The project aims to improve water quality in the ZMG without increasing extraction from Lake Chapala. The announcement came after the state government decided to cease using the old Chapala system that feeds the Las Pintas reservoir—a move that will temporarily reduce the volume of water available to the city by 30%.
Police Use Water Cannons to Disperse Crowd
Reports indicate that police used water cannons to disperse protesters in the vicinity of Casa Jalisco, where barriers were erected to block access. Social media users who attended the march also reported the use of tear gas to break up the demonstration. One protester from Tonalá was allegedly detained arbitrarily while attempting to dialogue with police officers.
Government Reports Clashes with “Shock Group”
Authorities from the Jalisco government stated that while 10,000 people demonstrated peacefully, a “shock group” of about 400 people—described as being unrelated to the protest—resorted to violence, attacking police and bystanders.
The government reported that the march resulted in 28 injured police officers, two of whom were reported in serious condition. Additionally, 31 civilians required medical attention, and the 39 detainees are currently awaiting legal proceedings by the State Prosecutor’s Office.
“Peaceful demonstration is a right that must be respected. We regret that the violence caused by this shock group marred a legitimate civil protest,” authorities stated in a social media post.
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