Boston Activists Hold Protest in Solidarity with the People of Oaxaca

BOSTON, MA — At lunchtime on Friday October 5th, about 20 activists and concerned citizens from the Boston area gathered in front of the Mexican consulate.

The protest event was part of a local and on-going campaign to show support for and solidarity with the demonstrators in Oaxaca and the Popular Assemblies of the People of Oaxaca (APPO).

Activists delivered letters to the consulate on the 5h floor of the 20 Park Plaza building protesting Mexican military intimidating of the strikers and protesters in Oaxaca Mexico.

Organizers hope the protest will continue to grow week by week, but say that even a small number of activists distributing information, raising awareness, and encouraging visits to the consulate can be effective solidarity.

Oaxaca is located in the southern most part of Mexico just to the west of Chiapas, famous for it’s own resistance. Like Chiapas, Oaxaca is one of the poorest states in Mexico, yet is one of the richest in natural resources.

Activists and citizens there have occupied the center of Oaxaca City since a teacher’s strike began in late May. The demonstrator’s numbers, strength, power and sense of what is possible in Oaxaca have been steadily growing over the last several months.

They have been continuously attacked by state police, under orders from the dictatorial state governor Ulisses Ruiz Ortiz (URO).

In response to state repression, which has left at least 5 people dead, the demonstrators began holding mass assembly meetings, Asemblea Popular del Pueblo de Oaxaca (APPO).

The APPO consists of a wide range of groups, citizens and organizations and is an example of direct citizen democracy in Mexico. One of their uniting goals is the removal of URO through the use of non-violence but militant direct action and civil disobedience.

The president of Mexico, Vicente Fox, is now speaking of the importance of law and order in Oaxaca, and has ordered military units into the state of Oaxaca.

What began as a teacher’s strike has turned into an all out people’s rebellion bringing hundreds of thousands of people to the streets.

For more information on local efforts in solidarity with the people of Oaxaca, contact the Emerson Anti-Authoritarians at: emersonaas (at) lists.riseup.net

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Photos by Jonathan McIntosh
capedmaskedandarmed.com/photoblog