Mexican citizens demonstrate against U.S. President Donald J. Trump during a rally in Mexico City on Sunday. About 20,000 of people protested against the new U.S. president and his policies toward Mexico, while some also protested against the Mexican government and the country's President Enrique Peña Nieto. Photo by Jorge Nuñez/EPA

Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Mexico's Secretariat of Public Security said about 20,000 people in Mexico City protested against U.S. President Donald Trump, while some also demonstrated against their own President Enrique Peña Nieto.

The protesters waved Mexican flags and held anti-Trump signs during the march on Sunday through central Mexico City. Some signs read "Respect Mexico" and "We are all Mexico."


Trump angered many Mexicans by describing some who attempt to illegally enter the United States as "rapists" and "drug dealers" during his campaign for the presidency. Trump has pledged to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico and criticizes U.S. companies who outsource jobs to the country.

People also protested in several other Mexican cities, such as Tijuana, Monterrey and Morelia. No violence was reported.

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Trump has repeatedly said Mexico takes advantage of the United States through "unfair" deals, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement. Those comments have not gone unnoticed in Mexico.

"Trump, pay for your own wall!" one sign read.

"Undocumented Mexican immigrants are not criminals or rapists," another sign read. "They are hardworking, friendly people. Just ask any American employer and you'll see."

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A university professor, who wore a shirt that read "Nasty Women Keep Fighting -- a reference to Trump calling electoral rival Hillary Clinton a "nasty woman" -- said Trump's policies need to be countered by a stronger Mexican government.

"We are sending a message to Donald Trump: No wall. No immigrant raids. No aggression to Mexico," the professor said. "Mexico has never been so threatened and never have we had a government so incompetent."

In January following Trump's inauguration, Peña Nieto canceled his trip to Washington, D.C, over Trump's insistence Mexico pay for a new border wall.

Some protesters called on Peña Nieto to resign.

"We need a real president who defends the rights of Mexicans, who stands up to Trump," one teacher said.