Police used tear gas to disperse indigenous protesters who gathered in Morelia to demand the fulfillment of self-governance agreements [1], [2].

The clash highlights the ongoing tension between Mexico's state governments and indigenous communities over the legal recognition of traditional autonomy. Failure to implement these agreements often leads to civil unrest and direct confrontations with state security forces.

The protest occurred on the morning of May 25, 2026, in front of Casa Michoacán, the headquarters of the state government in Morelia, Michoacán [2]. Approximately 30 community members participated in the demonstration [1].

The protesters, identified as members of the Nahua community of Pómalo, also referred to as Arantepacua, gathered to demand that Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla and his administration honor signed agreements granting the community the right to self-governance [1].

During the event, police forces deployed tear gas to break up the crowd [1], [2]. Reports regarding the start of the violence vary. One account said that Ricardo Palominos, the director of Gobernación, was assaulted while attempting to listen to the protesters [1]. Other reports focus on the repression of the community by riot police without mentioning an attack on the official [2].

Conflicting reports also exist regarding the specific group involved. While some sources identify the protesters as members of the Nahua community of Pómalo [1], others describe them as members of the Purépecha community of Sevina [2].

The protesters said that the state government had failed to uphold its legal commitments to the indigenous population, leaving the community without the promised administrative autonomy.

“Police used tear gas to disperse indigenous protesters who gathered in Morelia”

This incident reflects a broader pattern of systemic friction in Michoacán, where indigenous groups seek to transition from nominal recognition to actual administrative autonomy. The use of force by state police against a small group of protesters suggests a breakdown in diplomatic channels between the governor's office and traditional community leaders.