Crisis in Oaxaca

Greetings fellow activists...

I am writing this in response to several of your messages that you want to
get involved in something here in the US. I am writing all of you to hear
what is going on in your communities around this issue and to see if you
have contacts, ideas, anything that might help people interested in learning
more about this issue and getting involved.

It is a very complicated situation in Oaxaca. I encourage all of you to
continue to look to alternative news media for a more accurate
representation of what is happening (ie. La Jornada, google alerts, etc.).

If you would like to get involved in planning an activity or know of people
who are already planning an activity, please hit me up ASAP.

We need to move on this issue.

Gracias a tod@s,

Mercedes V. Castillo
Co-Chair, The United People of Color Caucus
National Lawyers Guild
http://www.nlg.org/TUPOCC/
http://nlgtupocc.blogspot.com/

Former Chair, 2004-2006
National Latina/Latino Law Student Association
http://nllsa.org

"I for one believe that if you give people a thorough understanding of what
confronts them and the basic causes that produce it, they'll create their
own program, and when the people create a program, you get action."
--Malcolm X.

"Estos corazones que nos escucharon son de hombres, mujeres, niños y
ancianos que quieren un país democrático, libre y justo... Para este
diálogo nacional vamos a caminar mucho y vamos a dar muchos pasos. Nosotros
estamos dispuestos a todo para dar estos pasos." Comandante Ramona, EZLN

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Indy journalist slain in Mexico violence

Posted by Deanna Zandt at 7:35 AM on October 29, 2006.

Deanna Zandt: Left-wing protesters in Oaxaca were attacked by pro-government
forces, and videographer Brad Will was caught in the crossfire.

It was a horrific weekend in Oaxaca, Mexico. After months of teachers and
other workers protesting against the conservative government of the state,
and the country, pro-government forces cracked down on the protesters.
Violence erupted, and people were shot and killed at the mercy of
plainclothes para-military special forces removing a protest barricade.

Among those killed was American independent journalist William Bradley
Roland, aka Brad Will, on location reporting for Indymedia. Also killed were
striking schoolteacher Emilio Alfonso Fabian and Oaxaca resident Esteban
Zurrita.

I knew Brad and was shocked to learn of his death via a front-page photo of
his bleeding body in La Jornada. Here was a guy who believed so deeply in
the power of making media, whose convictions drew him to struggles around
the world for democracy and human rights, that they ultimately brought him
his demise. Activist Ben Shepard had this to say:

"When I got the call [...], I knew exactly what had happened. [Brad] was
always close. That's what made him an amazing activist. He lived on the cusp
of history. He lived a historical life. And to be part of that history, he
would take any risk. But he was not reckless. He was a caring, fun guy, who
like most of us, was in it for the community, the history, and hopefully to
get a little somethin' somethin'. And yet, while many such as myself, took a
more comfortable route, he put himself at risk over and over and over. I
know he was profoundly disturbed to see a woman burnt to death at a homeless
encampment two years ago in Brazil. He lived history. Now he is part of it."

Yet the community that Brad ran with is turning his death into movements of
activism, in an effort to bring to light the severity of the issues that
Brad died reporting on in Oaxaca. A protest at the Mexican consulate in New
York City has been organized for Monday morning at 9am (details and updates
available on NYC Indymedia). Other cities are planning events here, and
additional media activism plans are in the works. Those wishing to give
donations supporting the movement in Oaxaca are being directed here.

Brad, you taught me how to walk with my videocamera and not mess up the
picture, and your giant smile will be missed at gatherings and protests.
Rest in peace; we are only comforted knowing that you were doing not only
what you loved, but what you so deeply, deeply believed in.

UPDATE: A new site has been launched to serve as a clearinghouse for
information and related actions around Brad's death and the ongoing
situation in Oaxaca: Friends of Brad Will

Deanna Zandt is a contributing editor at AlterNet.

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