The Mayor of Mexico City, Claudia Sheinbaum, justified the installation of protective barriers around the National Palace and other historic buildings in the Zócalo in response to planned demonstrations on March 8 for International Women's Day. Feminist groups expressed their discontent on social media, recalling Sheinbaum's phrase: "I do not arrive alone, we all arrive together."
In her press conference, Sheinbaum reaffirmed her stance and defended the barriers as a measure to protect both attendees and the policewomen responsible for ensuring safety during the protest. She emphasized the need to prevent violent acts such as past attempts to burn the door of the National Palace, stating that it is preferable to place a physical barrier than to expose policewomen to danger.
The Mayor stressed that the priority is to avoid any harm to both the participants in the march and the security forces. In response to criticisms regarding the alleged excessive protection of monuments compared to the security of women, Sheinbaum highlighted that her administration has focused on the well-being of women, including the inclusion of their rights in the Constitution and the creation of the Secretariat for Women to address cases from a gender perspective.
She emphasized that protection during demonstrations is not only about preserving monuments, as in risky situations like these, the safety of all individuals involved is at stake.
