Mexico City merchants tear down barricades to reclaim Historic Center access

Local merchants in Mexico City’s Historic Center removed metal barricades on Wednesday to ease pedestrian access near the Zócalo. The barriers had restricted movement for two weeks due to checkpoints and a protest encampment. By midday, multiple passageways were opened for the public. The removal followed complaints from business owners about lost sales and alleged police demands for payment from pedestrians. Residents and shopkeepers cleared entrances on streets like Donceles, Motolinía, Tacuba, and República de Argentina. A shopkeeper confirmed the entrance on Donceles Street was passable by midday.

Signs on the metal barriers along Guatemala and Correo Mayor advertised open businesses, including La Marsella Haberdashery and Blusas Paloma. However, personnel from the Public Works Secretariat later reinstalled the barriers that had been taken down. Security officers from the Citizen Security Secretariat and local government were stationed to monitor the newly opened access points. The reopening of passageways allowed pedestrians to move through the area more freely. Authorities maintained a presence to manage the flow of people. The situation highlighted tensions between merchants, residents, and officials over access restrictions.