Anti-Gentrification March Targets Starbucks in Mexico City

Mexico City, Mexico — Chants of “Out with gringos!” and “Here we speak Spanish!” echoed through the streets of Mexico City on Friday as hundreds of residents marched against gentrification, a phenomenon they blame for displacing locals and driving up housing costs. The demonstration, organized by residents of the Doctores, Obrera, Roma, and Condesa neighborhoods, escalated into property damage and confrontations with tourists.

Protesters Clash with Businesses and Tourists

The march began at Parque México in the Cuauhtémoc borough, where protesters denounced the influx of foreign residents and real estate speculation, which they claim has made housing unaffordable. Some participants vandalized storefronts, shattered windows, and hurled firecrackers at a Starbucks in Condesa. Others engaged in heated exchanges with tourists in the area.

Luisito Comunica, a popular Mexican YouTuber, reported being verbally assaulted during the protest. In an Instagram story, he recounted protesters blaming him for contributing to gentrification. “They started yelling, ‘F*** you, Luisito! You’re part of the problem!’ I was like, ‘Dude, what’s the deal? I’m Mexican!'” said the content creator, who hails from Puebla.

Gentrification: A Growing Crisis in Mexico City

Approximately 300 people joined the protest, organized by grassroots collectives and civil organizations under the slogan “Gentrification isn’t progress—it’s dispossession.” Demonstrators condemned soaring rents and short-term rental platforms like Airbnb, which they argue have pushed long-time residents out of central neighborhoods.

“Gentrification is a form of urban transformation where traditionally working-class areas are reshaped by state or private interventions, attracting wealthier demographics and displacing original communities,” explained Lorena Umaña Reyes, a political and social sciences expert at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

In Mexico City, the phenomenon has been fueled by digital nomads, luxury housing developments, and tourism. Over the past five years, gentrification has spread beyond the capital to other Mexican cities and tourist destinations.

Government Response and Global Parallels

The protest follows recent efforts by Mexico City officials to address housing displacement, including a hotline for reporting illegal evictions. Similar anti-gentrification movements have emerged in European cities like Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, and Rome, where locals protest mass tourism and rising living costs.

Jacaranda Correa, a journalist at the rally, emphasized the broader stakes: “This is about our right to housing and fighting real estate speculation that displaces people and harms the environment.”

The march underscores deepening tensions over urban inequality as Mexico City grapples with its identity as a global destination—and the unintended consequences of its appeal.