Mexico City — A demonstration by transgender women and sex workers, intended to demand justice for alleged abuses at a local hotel, escalated into a violent confrontation in the Cuauhtémoc borough, resulting in injuries to dozens and significant damage to public property.

The protest, which drew several hundred participants, turned volatile when protesters reached the seat of the local government. According to witnesses and social media reports, the situation deteriorated into a series of physical altercations, with protesters reportedly smashing windows, damaging furniture, and clashing with municipal employees.

Alcaldesa Alessandra Rojo de la Vega condemned the violence in a video released on her social media, accusing a group of protesters of attacking her staff and destroying public facilities. \”With violence, nothing,\” she stated, confirming that she has filed a criminal complaint with the Mexico City Attorney General’s Office (FGJCDMX) to investigate the incidents.

The demonstration was originally called to protest reported incidents of violence against trans people during a health outreach event held three days prior, where the organizers claimed people were injured and medical supplies were lost. They were demanding a formal investigation, the closure of the establishment involved, and guaranteed safety measures for the sex work community.

While the local administration maintains that the police intervention was necessary to prevent protesters from entering offices and to control an alleged fire in the plaza, the collective Justicia Histórica Trans denounced the heavy-handed police response, claiming that more than 13 people were injured by the use of tear gas and other dispersal methods.

The incident highlights the ongoing and volatile tensions between local authorities and marginalized advocacy groups in the capital.