Demonstration over contaminated water leaves at least nine detained and dozens injured.
On Monday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned police repression against a demonstration over contaminated water in Guadalajara, in the state of Jalisco, where at least nine people were detained and dozens injured.
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“We do not agree with repression,” she said, asking Jalisco Gov. Pablo Lemus to provide information about the detentions and disclose the names of those arrested.
The Mexican president said Jalisco authorities must explain why they used water and tear gas to contain Sunday’s demonstration, which drew about 10,000 people.
“There must be no repression, and dialogue must be opened. There must not be violent demonstrations, either,” Sheinbaum said, insisting that although security forces can contain violent acts, there is a difference between contention and repression.
“Repression gets us nowhere,” the Mexican president said, leaving open the possibility that the Interior Ministry could intervene in the dialogue if asked to do so.
On Sunday, the demonstration in Jalisco ended in clashes between riot police and participants who were trying to reach the governor’s residence. The organizing groups reported that four people remained missing and that journalists were also affected during the protest in Guadalajara, Mexico’s second-largest city, with more than 4 million residents.
💧 Protesta por el agua en #Guadalajara: detenidos y decenas de lesionados
Miles de personas protestaron en Guadalajara, por la contaminación del agua denunciada en al menos 320 colonias desde marzo. La movilización terminó con enfrentamientos en Casa Jalisco, donde policías… pic.twitter.com/9yMg0bVa2b
— Diario de Yucatán (@DiariodeYucatan) October 12, 2026
The text reads, “Water protest in Guadalajara: arrests and dozens injured. Thousands of people protested in Guadalajara over water contamination reported in at least 320 neighborhoods since March. The demonstration ended in clashes at Casa Jalisco, where police used tear gas and water cannons. The Jalisco government reported 39 arrests and 59 injuries—including 28 police officers (two in serious condition) and 31 civilians. Meanwhile, participants and activist groups alleged arbitrary arrests and stated that several people were beaten during the events. Those detained reportedly include a teacher and at least six students from the ITESO high school—officially known as the Jesuit University of Guadalajara—though no official figure has been confirmed. The protest reignited demands for information regarding water quality and for answers from the authorities. Do you consider the authorities’ actions during the demonstration to have been appropriate?”
Sheinbaum Rejects Privatization
The Mexican president expressed opposition to solutions for Guadalajara’s water supply that would involve privatizing the service, as proposed by Gov. Lemus, who belongs to the opposition Citizens’ Movement party.
“We do not agree with supporting the privatization of the water service,” the Mexican president said, explaining that the Jalisco government is proposing to finance infrastructure projects through a mechanism that could allow private-sector participation in operating the service. The National Water Commission (Conagua) will therefore review the project with state authorities.
The environmental crisis affects about 320 neighborhoods in the Guadalajara metropolitan area, where residents and organizations have been reporting the presence of fecal bacteria and heavy metals in the water delivered to their homes for months.
The contamination has sparked public protests, complaints about health problems and demands for a health alert, while authorities seek alternatives to ensure the supply of drinking water.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
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