"We want water, not provocateurs": protesters stop march in Jalisco in the presence of a shock group

Over 4,500 people marched through Guadalajara on October 11, demanding clean water and ending with confrontations involving police, tear gas, and high-pressure water jets. According to reports, at least 59 individuals were injured, and 39 people were detained during the demonstration. The protest, which began peacefully near La Minerva and ended at Casa Jalisco, the official residence of Governor Pablo Lemus, turned violent as law enforcement used force to disperse crowds. The incident has intensified public distrust in the government’s handling of the ongoing water crisis in Jalisco. On October 10, Governor Lemus announced improvements in water quality following the closure of the flow from the Las Pintas reservoir. However, these claims require verification through laboratory results, colony-specific measurements, and independent assessments. Earlier, on October 6 and 7, Lemus publicly acknowledged the crisis and suspended the use of water from Las Pintas, reducing supply by up to 2.5 cubic meters per second. A six-month rationing plan was introduced in the initial phase. The root causes of the crisis, according to state authorities, include an aging infrastructure for water transport from Lake Chapala and irregular discharges affecting the Las Pintas channel. Officials admit delays in maintaining water supply and purification systems. They attribute the problem to contamination entering the system via unauthorized discharges into the channel and reservoir. A second large-scale demonstration took place on Sunday, aimed at demanding justice for the violence experienced during the previous week's protest. Organizers canceled the march initially due to the presence of masked individuals wielding sticks, stones, and hammers, whom protesters claimed were sent by the state government to suppress dissent. Despite this, the group eventually proceeded toward the governor’s office after assurances that the situation had been resolved. Participants included families, students, elderly citizens, and residents from different neighborhoods within the metropolitan area. Protesters carried bottles of contaminated water to highlight the poor conditions of their water supply. They demanded guarantees for water quality, prevention of pollution, and opposition to service privatization. The National Commission of Human Rights (CNDH) urged authorities in Jalisco and Guadalajara to respect and protect freedom of expression and peaceful assembly while avoiding unnecessary use of force. The commission stated its team would remain in the city starting October 13 to continue investigating incidents related to the October 11 demonstration. On October 11, approximately 10,000 people participated in the protest, beginning at the La Minerva roundabout and ending at Casa Jalisco. Although the demonstration started peacefully, tensions escalated near the governor’s residence, leading to clashes between police and demonstrators. Law enforcement deployed tear gas and high-pressure water jets to disperse the crowd. Reports indicate that at least 50 people were detained during the event. Governor Lemus attributed the violence to a presumed "riot squad," calling for investigations into both the acts of aggression and potential police misconduct. Human rights organizations have requested an inquiry into the use of force during the demonstration, citing concerns over excessive police actions against participants and journalists covering the event.