It began April 3 — the day Lopez Obrador made a public gaffe by saying the coronavirus pandemic is “like a ring to the finger” for Mexico, meaning “it fits perfectly” and it would help with innovation and transformation in Mexico.
Demonstrators take part in a protest against the government of Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (ALMO) and his handling of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic, in Guadalajara, Jalisco State, Mexico, on May 30, 2020. (Photo by Ulises Ruiz / AFP)
Thousands of people on Saturday took to the streets across Mexico against the policies of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s government.
A new conservative-leaning group, National Citizen Front (NCF), organized the anti-AMLO protests which saw thousands of demonstrators honking their car horns and holding signs from inside their cars during the socially distant protest.
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The convoys, called “Lopez Vete Ya” (Lopez, quit already), were aimed at expressing indignation towards the president, who the protesters accused of jeopardizing the “sovereignty, integrity and independence” of Mexico amid the coronavirus crisis.
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The groups confirmed that convoys were organized in the capital and major cities including Puebla, Cuernavaca, Acapulco, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Cancun, Merida and Veracruz as well as different places in the states of Queretaro and Chihuahua.
As the vehicles passed through the main streets of the cities, the cars displayed posters with messages such as “AMLO (president’s initials), Out!” “AMLO, Resign. You Don’t Own Mexico”.
In Mexico City, the protest began just before noon near the National Auditorium and moved across the central Paseo de Reforma Avenue to enter the Plaza de Constitution (Constitution Square), where they protested in front of the National Palace, the residence and office of the president.
According to police officials cited by local media outlets, around 250 vehicles and 300 protesters participated in the protest in the capital.
It began April 3 — the day Lopez Obrador made a public gaffe by saying the coronavirus pandemic is “like a ring to the finger” for Mexico, meaning “it fits perfectly” and it would help with innovation and transformation in Mexico.
The remark enraged many, especially Lozano and his supporters, who used the day as the group’s founding date.
The demonstrations come towards the end of social distancing measures imposed since March to contain the coronavirus epidemic, as authorities have announced a gradual resumption of normalcy.
According to the Health authorities, the ongoing coronavirus restrictions would be lifted slowly from June 1 based on a four-colored “traffic light” system to determine which actions would be allowed for individuals and businesses, with red denominating the most high-risk areas, followed by orange, yellow and green to mark progressively lower risks of infections.
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