Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first woman president, was walking near the National Palace when a man lunged from the crowd, threw an arm around her shoulder, and reached for her chest.
Cameras caught it. Sheinbaum turned and brushed him off. Security intervened and immediately arrested the man.
Within hours, Sheinbaum filed a formal complaint; transforming a personal violation into a national reckoning.
“If they can do this to the president, what about young women across the country?” she asked.
Her tone was even, but the message sharp: impunity ends here.
Legal reform
The man, who was reportedly intoxicated, now faces prosecution. However, Sheinbaum seeks more than just this individual case.
She is advocating for consistent legislation that criminalises sexual harassment across all 32 states in Mexico.
“It should never happen,” she said, echoing a truth long buried under silence.
The incident unfolded during a five-minute walk between the National Palace and the Education Ministry.
A symbolic stroll intended to demonstrate her accessibility turned into a poignant illustration of vulnerability.
Critics questioned her security detail; supporters hailed her composure. Claudia Sheinbaum, unfazed, vowed to keep walking among citizens.
Presenté una denuncia por el episodio de acoso que viví ayer en la Ciudad de México. Debe quedar claro que, más allá de ser presidenta, esto es algo que viven muchas mujeres en el país y en el mundo; nadie puede vulnerar nuestro cuerpo y espacio personal.
Revisaremos la… pic.twitter.com/jcs6FweI6q
— Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (@Claudiashein) November 5, 2025
Daily pain
The video resonated deeply with millions of Mexican women. It captured what they live daily: unwanted touches, leers, and the quiet fear that follows them home.
Official data show seven in ten women over 15 have faced violence. Feminist groups call it a national epidemic.
READ ALSO: 10-Year-Old Pele Made this Promise to His Crying Father and Fulfilled It
Calm and unbowed
At 63, Sheinbaum, a climate scientist, former Mexico City mayor, and the country’s first Jewish leader, has built her image around calm authority.
Now she’s channelling that poise into defiance. Her complaint, she insists, is not about ego but example.
“It happens every day,” she said. “This must stop.”
The assault that lasted seconds could reshape how Mexico treats the ordinary harassment women endure.
PAY ATTENTION: Reach us at info@gotta.news.
