Paramilitary repression and police brutality continue unabated on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border three years after the assassinations of Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes in Oaxaca, Mexico and Fong Lee in Minneapolis, MN
By Steven Renderos & Sylvia González
November 1, 2009
Two different people – different stories, different places, – separated by nearly 2,000 miles, were connected three years ago when their lives were cut short by gunfire. Fong Lee and Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes suffered a death inflicted by the gunshots of police and paramilitary officials. For Cervantes, it was one gunshot wound to the chest; for Lee, three gunshot wounds in his back, and five more to the front. Cervantes died seeking justice during the popular movement in 2006 in Oaxaca, Mexico, while Fong Lee died as a result of deeply rooted racism and police brutality in communities of color across the United States.
The stories of Lorenzo and Fong tell the tales of paramilitary repression during the popular movement of 2006 in Oaxaca, Mexico and police brutality and racism in the Hmong community in Minneapolis- and how they play out in different sociopolitical contexts. While their lives ended tragically, their stories continue as their family and community members are fighting back, building unity, and defining “justice” and “dignity” on their own terms and based on their own experiences.
La lucha sigue three years after the assassination of Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes-husband and father of four-who was assassinated on August 22, 2006 by paramilitary troops under the orders of Governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz. A total of 26 deaths were documented during the 2006 uprising when thousands of Oaxacans came together to raise their voices against the abuses of the state government and more than 500 years of injustices.
In this interview, Trinidad Sampablo (sister) and Paul Sampablo (nephew) recollect Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes and his decision to stand up for his values of justice and dignity when he, like thousands of others, took to the streets to reclaim the media and their destiny. They also share with us how they will celebrate el dia de los muertos (Day of the Dead) in an attempt to keep Lorenzo and the spirit of resistance alive in Oaxaca.
JUSTICE FOR OAXACA!!
PUNISHMENT FOR THE KILLERS OF LORENZO SAMPABLO CERVANTES!!
Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes was killed by Oaxaca state policemen and PRI party paramilitaries in the early morning hours of August 22, 2006, outside the commercial radio station “La Ley,” occupied by the APPO in the city of Oaxaca.
That morning the people of Oaxaca had eleven commercial radio stations under their control in response to a paramilitary group’s violent evacuation the morning before of the government radio and television stations held and run for 21 days by women from the social movement.
Actions in Oaxaca on August 15 and 22, three years after the death of Lorenzo Sampablo
To the heroic people of Oaxaca
To the peoples of the world
To the news media
Three years ago, during the massacre perpetrated against the people of Oaxaca by the federal and state governments, the most basic human rights and individual guarantees listed in our Constitution were trampled upon, including the free expression of ideas, the right to organize and mobilize, and the right to a person’s physical integrity; all of these were conceived as legal instruments to attain freedom and social justice in our country.
Paramilitary repression and police brutality continue unabated on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border three years after the assassinations of Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes in Oaxaca, Mexico and Fong Lee in Minneapolis, MN
JUSTICE FOR OAXACA!!
Actions in Oaxaca on August 15 and 22, three years after the death of Lorenzo Sampablo
