Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum strongly condemned the xenophobic remarks made during the anti-gentrification march held last Friday in Mexico City, emphasizing that “Mexico is a country of solidarity and brotherhood,” where discrimination in any form has no place.
During her morning press conference, Sheinbaum reaffirmed that all people should be treated with equality and respect, regardless of their origin.
“Xenophobic expressions in that protest must be condemned. No matter how legitimate the demand may be — such as with the issue of gentrification — it cannot justify calling for the expulsion of people of any nationality,” she said.
The President recalled that Mexico has historically been an open and welcoming nation, having previously offered refuge to Spanish Republicans, victims of dictatorships in South America, and people displaced from Guatemala.
“Mexico is a country open to the world and is not discriminatory. Xenophobic attitudes cannot be justified under any circumstance,” she reiterated.
Sheinbaum also expressed solidarity with a Mexico City female police officer who was subjected to racist and classist insults by an Argentine woman in the Condesa neighborhood.
“Our full support goes to the officer who endured those insults. What we witnessed was an appalling expression of discrimination, racism, and classism that must not be tolerated in our country,” she said.
Gentrification: A Phenomenon That Must Be Regulated
In relation to the issue of gentrification, the President explained that it is driven by real estate speculation, particularly following the pandemic and the arrival of “digital nomads” who rent apartments at high prices through digital platforms. This trend has led to rising costs in traditional neighborhoods and the displacement of long-term residents.
“The city’s rising cost of living and the displacement of those who have lived there for years cannot be allowed. There must always be inclusion — not just tolerance, but true inclusion,” she stressed.
The President concluded by announcing that her administration will work in coordination with the Ministry of Agrarian, Territorial, and Urban Development (Sedatu) and local authorities to create mechanisms to regulate unchecked real estate growth and ensure the right to decent housing in areas impacted by gentrification.
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Mexican Press Agency is part of ALMA, which is dedicated to news and information about Mexico and Mexicans in the United States and is a fiscally sponsored project of Social Focus, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Redwood City, California.
