Mexican protesters clash with police over death in custody

Mexicans protested police brutality on Thursday (June 4) in the country's second-largest city, Guadalajara, calling for authorities to be held accountable for the death in custody of a local man allegedly arrested over not wearing a face mask in

public.

Cities around the world have seen swelling protests since the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a white police officer kneeled on his neck in Minneapolis.

Protesters in Guadalajara's historic center jumped on a police car, smashed its windows, and later set it on fire. Police were seen using force against protesters.

Mexico's deputy minister for human rights requested case files from authorities in Jalisco, where Guadalajara is located, and Baja California, where there may have been a similar incident in February.

Jalisco has implemented strict measures aimed to curb the spread of the coronavirus; wearing face masks is mandatory.

Although the exact circumstances of the death in Jalisco are not known, footage circulating on social media showed a young man, identified as Giovanni Lopez, being detained by police in early May. Bystanders can be heard saying the police were

arresting him for not using a face mask.

Lopez, a construction worker, died in custody, the statement said.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Mexico condemned the incident and called for an investigation of all officials and institutions responsible for his custody until his death.