Oaxaca rebels

What began as a strike for better wages by Oaxaca's 70,000 teachers has evolved into a broader call for the ouster of Governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz and his corrupt PRI party.

For a month, teachers have held the central plaza in the state capital until police raided it, possibly murdering three people including a child, on June 14. 

As dawn broke, the Special Operations Police Unit and the Judicial Police clashed with protesters in a fight to control the main square, or Zócalo. The police used tear gasses of different types, which were launched by hand, by grenade launchers, and tossed from state government helicopters overhead. These gas canisters were dropped indiscriminately, as corroborated by one Narco News reporter who found 35 gas canisters along a single city block, all made in the United States. The teachers carried sticks, machetes, rocks, and some were able to protect themselves with shields and helmets they pulled off their attackers. Teachers’ brigades were organized to help provide water, vinegar and Coca-Cola, to help counteract the effects of the gas. Contrary to what we heard reported in the mass media, we saw not a single teacher carrying firearms or Molotov cocktails.

Seems in the lead up to the July 2 elections, the Mexican state plans to implement the "Atenco model" wherever disturbances may occur.  But instead of going home, the teachers and their many supporters took the zocolo back and and the next day staged a 400,000 person march against the government and its repressive tactics. 

The first marchers arrived at Llano Park at twilight in the rain; the end of the march arrived around 10:00 p.m. Along the route, supporters on the sidewalks held up signs and handed the chanting marchers food and water. No signs were about salaries, education or classrooms – the entire march, every shout, chant and banner, repeated the same theme: Ulises out.

The resignation of the governor is now an official demand of the teachers in their contract negotiations.

Enrique Rueda Pacheco, a leader of the teachers union, said the resignation of the governor had become a demand not just of the teachers but also "of all the people of Oaxaca."

There are several videos up on YouTube to get a better sense of what's been going on. 

Comments

[sappho]

Great post, and as usual, thank you for bringing attention to such important issues. I am currently working on a post about this as well.
I look to stories such as this to give me hope, hope that one day we in the US can achieve such revolutionary acts as this.
In solidarity,
Sappho

[scott]

Thanks Sappho. I look forward to your post. In the end, like other stuff in Oaxaca, such as the CIPO-RFM and San Blas Atempta, it is a hopeful story - though at this point I'm extremely pessimistic about an equivalent action in the US, now or in the future. I really hope I'm wrong.