Peru has been rocked by a surge of youth-led protests that have shaken the nation’s political foundations, leaving one protester dead, more than a hundred injured, and the country’s new president, José Jerí, under intense scrutiny. The unrest, which has swept through Lima and other major cities, represents a dramatic outpouring of frustration from Gen Z activists over corruption, insecurity, and decades of political instability. The crisis reached a boiling point on October 15, 2025, when 32-year-old protester and hip-hop singer Eduardo Mauricio Ruíz was fatally shot during a mass demonstration, triggering a fierce public backlash and prompting the government to declare a state of emergency in the capital.
The Associated Press reported that the protests erupted almost immediately after President Jerí took office on October 10, following the ouster of Dina Boluarte, one of the world’s least popular leaders. Jerí, just 38 years old and already Peru’s seventh president in under ten years, inherited a country simmering with discontent. Demonstrators initially rallied around demands for better pensions and wages for young people, but their grievances quickly broadened to encompass deep-seated anger over corruption, rampant crime, and a political class seen as out of touch and self-serving.
According to Reuters, the situation escalated dramatically on the night of October 15, when thousands of protesters—many galvanized by social media platforms like TikTok—filled the streets of Lima, clashing with police outside Congress. Police responded with tear gas as demonstrators hurled fireworks, rocks, and burning objects. The Ombudsman’s Office reported at least 24 protesters and 80 police officers injured during the clashes, while the National Association of Journalists said six journalists were hit by pellets and four were assaulted by police. In total, authorities counted over 100 injuries, including 10 journalists.
The protests took a tragic turn when Eduardo Ruíz, a well-known rapper and activist, was shot and killed. Local footage showed Ruíz collapsing on a Lima street after a man fleeing from protesters fired a gun. Witnesses told local media that the shooter was accused of being a plainclothes police officer infiltrated among the demonstrators. Peru's national police chief, General Oscar Arriola, confirmed that officer Luis Magallanes was responsible for the shooting after being physically assaulted by protesters. Magallanes has since been hospitalized and removed from duty, and the prosecutor’s office has launched a full investigation, ordering the removal of Ruíz’s body from the hospital and the collection of audiovisual and ballistic evidence from the scene. The office stated the investigation was being conducted “in the context of serious human rights violations.”
President Jerí, facing mounting pressure from protesters demanding his resignation, addressed the nation after visiting Parliament. “My responsibility is to maintain the stability of the country; that is my responsibility and my commitment,” he told the local press, as reported by South China Morning Post. He expressed regret over Ruíz’s death and promised an “objective” investigation, but also blamed the violence on “delinquents who infiltrated a peaceful demonstration to sow chaos,” vowing, “The full force of the law will be on them.”
Despite the outcry, Jerí has refused to step down. Instead, he announced plans to request special powers from Congress to legislate on public safety issues, including prison reform. Newly appointed Interior Minister Vicente Tiburcio echoed this stance, telling Congress that the government planned a “comprehensive reform” of the national police. Tiburcio reported that 89 police officers and 22 civilians had been injured, and 11 people detained during the protests.
The killing of Ruíz has become a rallying point for protesters, many of whom see his death as emblematic of a broader pattern of state violence and impunity. “He was peacefully hanging out with his friends. Unfortunately, the bullet hit his chest. We want justice for him,” activist Milagros Samillan told Al Jazeera. Demonstrators carried signs reading “Protesting is a right, killing is a crime,” and “From a murderess to a rapist, the same filth,” referencing both the ousted Boluarte and Jerí, who has faced past allegations of sexual assault and corruption—allegations he denies, and for which prosecutors dropped the case in August. However, another man present during the alleged incident remains under investigation.
The protests have also drawn international attention as part of a global wave of youth-led movements challenging entrenched political systems. According to The Hindu, similar demonstrations have erupted in countries like Nepal, the Philippines, Indonesia, Kenya, and Morocco, often marked by the presence of black flags bearing the “One Piece” anime symbol—a pirate skull with a straw hat—symbolizing generational rebellion.
Peru’s current wave of unrest is rooted in longstanding grievances. As sociology professor Omar Coronel of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru explained to AP, “After the pension issue, other frustrations followed—linked to insecurity, the erosion of state capacity in Peru, and corruption.” For many young Peruvians, the current protests are the latest chapter in a history of dashed hopes and government scandals. Memories of the violent 2022 protests, in which 50 people were killed under Boluarte’s administration, still loom large.
Protesters have also targeted Jerí for his legislative record, accusing him of backing six laws that experts say undermine anti-crime efforts and benefit criminal groups. Chants of “The rapist is Jerí” and “Jerí is a violin”—a slang term for rapist in Peru—rang out during the demonstrations, reflecting both anger at his past and distrust in his leadership. Calls for the resignation of Jerí and other lawmakers have only intensified as the crisis deepens.
With general elections scheduled for July 2026, many analysts see the current unrest as an early and critical test of Jerí’s presidency. The government’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Lima is a sign of just how seriously it views the threat posed by the protests. Yet, as the streets remain filled with demonstrators and public anger continues to mount, it is far from clear whether Jerí’s promises of reform and stability will be enough to quell the crisis—or whether Peru is headed for yet another chapter of political upheaval.
In the words of 27-year-old protester David Tafur, who joined the demonstrations after learning about them on TikTok: “We are fighting for the same thing—against the corrupt—who here are also killers.” For many in Peru’s Gen Z, the struggle is about more than pensions or crime; it is a fight for justice, accountability, and a future free from the cycles of abuse and disappointment that have haunted their country for generations.
As Peru stands at this crossroads, the world watches to see whether its leaders will heed the voices of a new generation—or whether the nation’s long history of political turmoil will continue to repeat itself.