2019-2020 Mexico riots - nxsa

* Many deaths
* Homes and small businesses being destroyed by fire
Armed civilians from Mexican communities defending property from the rioters and looters

The **2019-2020 Mexico riots** were a series of riots of citizen commotions that occurred during December 2019 and January 2020 in western and central Mexico. The origins of the riots were traced back to the landfall of Hurricane Velma during October 2019. Due to the government's poor preparations in advance of the storm, the effects of Velma left millions of Mexicans homeless. Due to the government essentially ignoring the public's plead, many had no other choice than to riot, which first took place on December 11, 2019. The riots continued into 2020, where it ended after the failed assassination of Andrés Manuel López Obrador on January 22, 2020. During December, the riots had gotten so out of hand that a state of emergency was issued for almost a month. Widespread looting, arson and murder was reported almost every day in December, causing many people to fly out of the country before Christmas, in fear of being killed or greatly injured.

In February 2020, when damage and death counts were finalized, it was found that 86 people had died, along with another 4,700+ people being injured, mostly from arson as up to 700 houses were burnt to the ground in December alone. Up to 10,000 arrests were made, including a former police officer, whose house had been destroyed by Velma months earlier. Total damage remains at $3.1 billion (2020 USD), making it one of the costliest civil unrests in history, beating the 1992 Los Angeles riots. The riots was also the deadliest riot since the aforementioned Los Angeles riots.

## Background

After Hurricane Velma made landfall on Mexico, many who were left alive, though also homeless, began to criticize the Mexican government's preparations, as a mandatory evacuation was not put out for the people. Many were displease with this, and were pleading with the government to aid them, as they were now homeless or their houses were no longer able to be repaired. However, the government only gave the people very little money, and little supplies. The government said that this was the outcome due to the government being in debt suddenly. Many people were outraged and disappointed by this in the president, as they were then "ignored" and not give any more help. People with insurance were unable to get new houses due to the the government ignoring the people. Many people again plead once again, but were once again ingored. Tension rose between the people and the government, and eventually the first protest was reported in mid-December, which would be the start of one of the biggest riots in Mexican history.

## Events

Riots began on December 11, 2019, after many threats towards the Mexican government were made on social media days before the riots began. The government didn't take this lightly however, as a state of emergency, along with a very strict curfew from dusk to dawn was put in place. This only riled people even more, only then were there speculation to assassinate the president of Mexico during late-December.

In the wake of the riots, up to 86 people were killed, including 7 police officers and a pregnant woman during late December and early January. As many as 4,721 civilians were injured, and up to 10,000 arrests and charges were made. Estimates of material losses are stuck on $3.1 billion as of September 2020, though experts are expecting for this total to rise to at least $4.7 billion. Up to 38,900 fires were set in Mexico City alone, with one of the fires starting one of the costliest wildfires in history. From this fire, at least 600 civilian houses were burnt to the ground. Luckily, no fatalities or injuries from the fire were recorded.

Many of the unrests were focused in Mexico City where the population consisted of Hispanic and Latino people. Most of the people killed were of Latino descent, while most of the arrest were from Hispanic descent.

### December 2019

The first instance of protest were reported early on December 11 in Los Mochis. This caused severe traffic delays throughout the town, and many eventually became enraged at this, deciding to take action by shouting slurs or curse words at the protesters. Eventually, the riots began to spread south as it made its way towards Mexico City. The government were concerned that the protests would escalate, so police officers were put on duty to prevent the situation from deteorating. This only made many others dissapointing and angry, as many stated that all the government needs to do is help the people who struggled in the aftermath of Hurricane Velma. Still, the Mexican government still refused, which caused people to grow violent during the protests.

On December 23, many small businesses were set on fire in San Luis Potosi and robbed. One police officer was shot by a rioter, but was able to recover. On December 24, the first death due to the riots was reported. A Hispanic woman trying to get to safety, was mistaken for a rioter and was therefore shot. She lived long enough to give the full story, before dying a few days later in the hospital. Another man was killed after he fell and was then stomped on. He died on the spot. Many protesters fainted from heat, or suffered heart attacks in fear of being shot by police officers. Many schools in the area had to be closed for at least two weeks before the situation was stabalized. Many parents also joined the protests to support those who suffered great loss in Velma's aftermath. This left many children at home alone, which was a recipe for disaster, after an eight-year old boy was killed when a rioter robbed the house and shot the kid. The boy died instantly.

During the days leading up to New Years Day, the riots finally began to settle down, as the whole of Mexico was put in a state of emergency to help prevent any further chaos from happening, though arson was still being performed in some areas. In Mexico City, a fire killed up to four people after rioters threw gasoline onto civilians and set them on fire. The rioters then killed themselves before they could be taken to jail. On the morning of December 30, prisoners that were perviously captured from the riots began to rebel, injuring two police officers after their legs were broken after being stomped on repeatedly. The riots had to be tear-gassed for them to stop. At least seven prisoners had to be shot with rubber bullets to stop them from advancing further. Despite all the injuries, no one was killed.

For the rest of the year, no significant incidents were reported, and New Years Day was a peaceful one surprisingly. Riot activity only began to increase a few days after, however, in Mexico City.

### January 2020

Day after New Years Day, on January 6, protesting resumed once again in Mexico City, still demanding the government to help them. Up to 700 people protested on January 9, and a day later, protests got violent once again as fires began to spark throughout the city. One of the fires got out-of-hand, and eventually developed into the El Salto fire on January 11, which caused up to $1.1 billion in damage, along with no deaths or injuries. On January 12, two teenagers were kidnapped by Hispanic men and were taken hostage outside of a bank in Mexico City. They both survived, though with major injuries after they both were shot in the leg to "scare them". During the fire, many people whose homes were burnt to the ground, remained homeless before the government immediately decided to help them with supplies. This angered civilians whose houses were also destoryed back in October 2019, who said it was very unfair to the victims of Hurricane Velma.

This only seemed to intensify the riots, with more stores getting robbed, schools going on lockdown due to shootings taking place near, causing every school in Mexico City to close for three weeks. Five people, including a 10-year old child, were killed by a rioter after she hit the people with her truck, killing them instantly. The woman is still at large as of January 29. Once again, a state of emergency was put in place, along with the curfew being extended as well. However, many didn't listen to these protocols and were therefore shot as a result of not complying. During the start of late-January, rioting at first began to calm down as no more fires were being reported, along with no burgularies. Nonetheless, tragedy struck on January 22, as a bullet was shot into the hand of the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador as he was being transported to a meeting to discuss the behaviour of the Mexican people.

As a result, a temporary law stated that anyone who were caught protesting anywhere, will be shot or gas-teared. This would work effectively, finally ending the 31 days of riots and protest throughout northwestern and central Mexico. Many expressed this law as too harsh, but didn't dare to start protesting as they feared of being injured severely. On December 11, 2020, a large funeral was held for the people who were killed during the riots. It was attended by Andrés Manuel López Obrador himself, though with extra security protecting him.

#### El Salto fire

*Main article: 2020 El Salto fire*

**WORK IN PROGRESS!**

#### Assassination attempt of Andrés Manuel López Obrador

*Main article: Attempted assassination of Andrés Manuel López Obrador*