Protesters smashed windows, looted snacks, and carried signs…
Mexico City saw an anti-gentrification protest on July 4, organized by the “Mexico City Anti-Gentrification Front,” which escalated outside a Starbucks in Condesa.
Protesters smashed windows, looted snacks, and carried signs reading “Expat = gentrifier” and “Gentrification is colonisation.”
Timed with U.S. Independence Day, the demonstration drew hundreds through Roma and Condesa—neighborhoods increasingly shaped by remote-working Americans since the pandemic. Residents argue the influx has pushed up rents and replaced local businesses with English-speaking cafes and boutiques.
President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the xenophobic tone, saying, “no nationality should be told to leave,” while also acknowledging rising housing costs as a valid concern. The group behind the protest clarified their stance, stating they oppose “inequality-driven gentrification,” not migration itself.
Experts argue that deeper housing issues, such as weak regulation and supply shortages, are the root causes. Still, the protest has ignited national debate about preserving local culture and affordability amid rapid urban change.