Massive Mexico City Protest Concert Denounces Israeli Crimes, Echoes 'Free Palestine'
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Over 180,000 people filled Mexico City’s Zócalo as Puerto Rican rapper Residente turned his concert into a thunderous show of solidarity with Palestine, condemning Israel’s relentless assaults on Gaza and amplifying the voices of Palestinian refugees.
The historic Zócalo square erupted in chants of “Palestina Libre” on Saturday night as Residente, the outspoken Puerto Rican rapper and activist, delivered a searing performance that doubled as a protest against Israel’s brutal aggression in Gaza.
The free concert, organized by the Mexico City Ministry of Culture, drew more than 180,000 in-person attendees, with an estimated 400,000 joining through livestream. The event ranked among the largest ever in the square’s history, underscoring the depth of public outrage over Israel’s crimes.
A defining moment came when Residente brought on stage the Abed family, Palestinian refugees who fled Gaza earlier this year. Their presence drew prolonged applause, as the crowd raised Palestinian flags and roared in unison against Tel Aviv’s violence.
Throughout the two-hour show, Residente fused protest anthems, Latin American pride, and sharp political commentary. Wearing attire emblazoned with the Palestinian flag colors and the words “Free Palestine,” he used his platform to highlight the resilience of Palestinians and condemn Western silence over Israel’s attacks.
“Everyone deserves equal opportunities. We need to support access to education, and it can be achieved,” Residente told the crowd, before declaring his love for Mexico’s solidarity with Palestine.
Mexican singer Silvana Estrada joined him for a rendition of “Latinoamérica,” while Palestinian cellist Sara Dowling Al Husseini opened the evening with traditional pieces from Palestine, setting a tone of cultural defiance against occupation.
The concert unfolded against the backdrop of ongoing massacres in Gaza, where thousands have been killed under Israeli bombardment. In Mexico City, however, the response was unflinching: music, flags, and chants combined into a unified denunciation of Israel’s crimes and a demand for Palestinian freedom.
By night’s end, the Zócalo had transformed into a vast sea of resistance — a reminder that the cause of Palestine continues to rally people across the globe against the occupation and its atrocities.
