SSC Fences Off Bellas Artes and 5 de Mayo Ahead of Generation Z March
Metal fences now ring Bellas Artes and line 5 de Mayo before the Generation Z march. Here is which streets are affected and how walkers are rerouted.
The Secretaría de Seguridad Ciudadana (SSC, Mexico City’s public security ministry) has put up metal fences in the Centro Histórico ahead of a march called by a group known as Generation Z, scheduled for 11:00 a.m. The barriers surround the Palacio de Bellas Artes and run along 5 de Mayo street, according to Pulso SLP, as cited by Antena San Luis.
The fencing has squeezed foot traffic in one of the busiest parts of the city during the Buen Fin shopping weekend. Pedestrians have been pushed onto Eje Central and, in places, Avenida Juárez, sometimes walking against the flow of traffic.
Which streets are fenced
On 5 de Mayo, the barriers cover the stretch from Simón Bolívar street to almost the corner of Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas, Pulso SLP reported. A separate ring of fencing encloses the Palacio de Bellas Artes. The SSC confirmed it installed the barriers as a preventive measure because of the march, which takes place in the Cuauhtémoc borough.
Police officers are stationed in front of the fences to guard shops and bank branches. According to the authorities quoted by Pulso SLP, the aim is to prevent damage to businesses and keep order while the march goes ahead.
What it means for people walking downtown
The fence on 5 de Mayo protects store fronts and entrances near Eje Central, but it also leaves less room on the sidewalk. People heading toward the Alameda or the Bellas Artes Metro station have to change their usual routes.
Around the Palacio de Bellas Artes, the barrier forces pedestrians to step down into the roadway, where buses and trucks pass close to them. El Universal checked the area on foot, and Pulso SLP reproduced its findings. One older woman told reporters she was worried about being hit by a vehicle. Another pedestrian said the mix of Buen Fin shoppers, the fences and a concert in the Zócalo made it hard to move around on a quincena weekend, when many workers receive their twice-monthly pay.
Crowds are heavier than usual because the closures overlap with Buen Fin, Mexico’s annual discount event, which draws shoppers to the stores on and around 5 de Mayo. The concert in the Zócalo adds more people to the same few blocks.
Who is behind the march
The march was called by a group calling itself Generation Z. The reports do not say what demands the group is making or what route it plans to follow. The SSC said it was expecting the mobilization and had placed the barriers in advance.
Visitors planning to see the Palacio de Bellas Artes or other landmarks in the Centro Histórico will find the area around the palace enclosed while the fences remain in place. Officials have not said when the barriers will come down.
What to watch
Authorities have urged pedestrians and drivers in the Centro Histórico to expect detours and take care while the march is under way. The main pressure points are Eje Central, where walkers share space with traffic, Avenida Juárez, and the area around the Bellas Artes Metro station and the Alameda. Police will stay posted along 5 de Mayo to protect shops and bank branches during the march.
Source: ANTENA SAN LUIS
