MEXICO CITY – Businesses in Mexico City have reported significant damage and theft following recent protests that began as a movement against gentrification but reportedly escalated into acts of vandalism and looting. Among the affected establishments is the Ripndip store, which sustained broken windows and was reportedly stripped of its merchandise. Local content creator Luisillo El Pillo documented the aftermath, showing images of the boarded-up Ripndip store and other businesses, including a Starbucks and a private vehicle, defaced with graffiti and damage. He presented footage of protesters breaking into stores and carrying away goods, asserting that these actions constituted theft rather than legitimate protest. “This was not a manifestation; this was a robbery disguised as a manifestation,” stated Luisillo El Pillo, emphasizing that many of the affected businesses, including franchises, are owned by Mexican investors and employ Mexican workers. He highlighted the financial hardship imposed on these local entrepreneurs, stating, “It’s difficult to open a business, and it’s costly, only for all your merchandise to be taken overnight, leaving you in debt.” During his reporting, Luisillo El Pillo was confronted by a woman who verbally attacked him and defended the destruction as a necessary "class struggle." She accused him of supporting "violators" by defending the businesses. The content creator noted the irony of her stance, pointing out that she was carrying a bag from a foreign luxury brand while advocating against foreign influence and in favor of supporting Mexican businesses, a sentiment he agreed with, encouraging support for his own Mexican-owned ventures. A worker from a 100% Mexican-owned establishment corroborated the accounts of violence, describing how protesters used "sticks, stones, and umbrellas" to break windows and throw tables. He confirmed that his business, with Mexican owners and employees, also suffered damages. The incidents underscore the tensions surrounding gentrification and economic disparity in the city, with the protests drawing attention to complex social issues and their sometimes destructive consequences.
Luisito Comunica no asistió a segunda marcha antigentrificación y pidió disculpas por minimizar la protesta anterior en redes sociales.
