Mexican government sends cops to smash uprising
You may not have heard about the Oaxaca uprising. In fact, there's a good chance you didn't if you rely on the mainstream media for your information.
To be brief, a teachers strike in Oaxaca, Mexico was attacked by police sent in by the corrupt Oaxaca state governer a few months back. The police chased the teachers, who were striking for better wages and improvements in the public education system, out of the town square where they had set up camp.
The teachers didn't stay gone for long however. They rallied thousands of other workers and farmers who returned to the town, chased the police out, and took over.
They took over police stations, radio stations and television stations, and set up a truly democratic governing body, based on the principles of participatory democracy.
The government has been attacking them here and there throughout, with assassinations and beatings.
Now, frustrated that the Oaxaca uprising is spreading and becoming more and more popular, the corrupt government is taking serious action.
On Friday, a group of plane clothes police officers attacked a group of strikers and their supporters in Oaxaca with guns. They shot Bradley Will, an independent journalist from New York City, in the stomache, killing him. Two others were killed and several were injured.
Now, the outgoing president has sent heavily armed police into the city. There could be a very bloody crackdown on these heroic workers and farmers.
Everyone should whatever they can, including emailing and calling the Mexican consulate, telling their friends and coworkers, picketing outside of Mexican consulates, passing resolutions in their unions, posting this info on message boards, etc. Even small steps should be taken, if that's all you're able to do. We need to build working class unity to defend the lives of the people of Oaxaca, who are standing up and fighting for a better tommorow, not only for themselves, but for all of us.
For background and analysis on the Oaxaca uprising, see: http://www.freepeoplesmovement.org/fpm/page.php?200
To be brief, a teachers strike in Oaxaca, Mexico was attacked by police sent in by the corrupt Oaxaca state governer a few months back. The police chased the teachers, who were striking for better wages and improvements in the public education system, out of the town square where they had set up camp.
The teachers didn't stay gone for long however. They rallied thousands of other workers and farmers who returned to the town, chased the police out, and took over.
They took over police stations, radio stations and television stations, and set up a truly democratic governing body, based on the principles of participatory democracy.
The government has been attacking them here and there throughout, with assassinations and beatings.
Now, frustrated that the Oaxaca uprising is spreading and becoming more and more popular, the corrupt government is taking serious action.
On Friday, a group of plane clothes police officers attacked a group of strikers and their supporters in Oaxaca with guns. They shot Bradley Will, an independent journalist from New York City, in the stomache, killing him. Two others were killed and several were injured.
Now, the outgoing president has sent heavily armed police into the city. There could be a very bloody crackdown on these heroic workers and farmers.
Everyone should whatever they can, including emailing and calling the Mexican consulate, telling their friends and coworkers, picketing outside of Mexican consulates, passing resolutions in their unions, posting this info on message boards, etc. Even small steps should be taken, if that's all you're able to do. We need to build working class unity to defend the lives of the people of Oaxaca, who are standing up and fighting for a better tommorow, not only for themselves, but for all of us.
For background and analysis on the Oaxaca uprising, see: http://www.freepeoplesmovement.org/fpm/page.php?200
