Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo, Outspoken Cartel Critic, Assassinated Amid Day of the Dead Festivities

Uruapan, Michoacán – Carlos Manzo, the outspoken Mayor of Uruapan, was assassinated on November 1, 2025, during a Day of the Dead festival in the city's historic center. Manzo, 40, who had gained national attention for his aggressive stance against organized crime, was shot seven times while with his family, leading to widespread outrage and protests. The incident has intensified concerns over the escalating violence in Mexico and the effectiveness of government strategies against cartels.

Manzo had served as Uruapan's municipal president since September 2024, taking a hard line against organized crime and frequently calling for greater federal support. He had previously stated, "I don’t want to be just another mayor on the list of those executed," and challenged President Claudia Sheinbaum's "hugs, not slugs" policy, asserting that "there can be no hugs for criminals."

The fatal attack occurred around 8:00 p.m. CST, injuring a city council member and a bodyguard as well. Federal Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch confirmed that one assailant was "neutralized" at the scene and two others were arrested. Harfuch noted that Manzo had been under federal protection since December 2024, with 14 National Guard soldiers assigned to his security detail since May 2025.

The assassination sparked immediate condemnation from President Sheinbaum, who called it a "vile" act and vowed justice. However, public reaction in Michoacán was fierce; Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla was booed and forced to leave Manzo's funeral by angry residents chanting "Murderer!" and "Justice!" Protests in Morelia, the state capital, saw demonstrators storm and vandalize the government palace.

Manzo's death marks a grim milestone, making him the seventh municipal president killed during Ramírez Bedolla's governorship and the sixth mayor assassinated in Mexico in 2025. The mayor's widow, Grecia Quiroz García, stated tearfully, "They didn’t kill the president of Uruapan, they killed the best president of Mexico," reflecting the sentiment shared by many that his death was a consequence of confronting the powerful criminal organizations that plague the region, particularly the lucrative avocado industry.