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Stop the Repression in Oaxaca - Fresno Action

by Mike Rhodes (MikeRhodes [at] Comcast.net)
Fresno activists have set up an alter (see photo below) to honor those who have died fighting for human rights in Oaxaca.
600photo1.jpg
Stop the Repression in Oaxaca
By Mike Rhodes

As I arrived there was a man (pictured below) tearing up the protestors sign. I didn’t know who he was until I saw him unlock the front door of the Mexican Consulate, in downtown Fresno. Gloria Hernandez, one of the organizers of the event, was trying to talk to him as he made a speedy getaway.

From their Press Release, here is why activists were at the Consulate today - “We set up an alter to honor those who have died fighting for human rights in Oaxaca. We will request that people not send money to Mexico until our demands are met. We will build the Central Valley brigade in support of the struggle in Oaxaca. The San Joaquin Valley is home to many immigrants from Oaxaca who have contributed much to this valley. We ask for support for their companeros who are dying for human rights in Oaxaca.”

The vigil continues tonight. Here is the content of the flier activists were handing out and the continuation of the Press Release:

Stop the Repression in Oaxaca
STOP the utilization of military force against the Oaxaqueño Community
who are struggling for schools, better wages for teachers
JUSTICE for the Hunger strikers!!
STOP all business with Mexico
DON'T send money to Mexico until Governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz leaves office
WITHDRAW all federal troops from Oaxaca. Investigate and detain paramilitaries
Responsible for the murders.
BRING flowers for the altar to show your support.
JOIN THE PROTEST TODAY, TONIGHT AND EVERY FRIDAY at the
Mexican Consulado Office in Fresno corner of N and Merced.
For more information call (559) 497-0266
BRIGADISTAS DEL VALLE CENTRAL
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A call to conscience, a call to action without borders:
For Justice and Human Rights in Oaxaca

The Zapatistas, on Oct 30th 2006, wrote: "...the EZLN calls out to the Other Campaign in Mexico and north of the Rio Grande, so that these November 1st mobilizations happen wherever possible, completely, partially, at intervals or symbolically... "

Last week the Mexican government attempted to dismantle and stop the growing movement calling for democracy and justice in the state of Oaxaca with a violent paramilitary assault on a people's sit-in/planton in the heart of Oaxaca, in the state capital. An U.S. Indy Media journalist and two others were killed by paramilitary or police agents in plain clothes and wounded many others.

We ask you to call the Mexican consulates in your area and demand:
1. The immediate departure of the Mexican army and federal preventive police from Oaxaca.
2. Immediate freedom for all the detained compañeros.
3. Justice for our murdered compañeros and the punishment of the murderers.
4. Immediate departure of the murderer Ulises Ruiz, current "governor" of Oaxaca.

BACKGROUND
Since the middle of June, the people of Oaxaca have been organizing to force their corrupt and repressive governor, Ulises Ruiz Ortiz, to step down from office. The Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca (APPO, Asamblea Popular del Pueblo de Oaxaca) is an explicitly non-violent movement and has fought to exercise their constitutional right to change their government. Their non-violent mobilization has been met with repeated violence that has led to approximately 20 deaths over the past four months.

On Friday, October 27th, New York City independent journalist Brad Will, striking schoolteacher Emilio Alfonso Fabián, and Oaxaca resident Eudocia Olivera Díaz were murdered by people connected to the state government of Oaxaca. Brad's death was used by the Mexican government to justify the brutal occupation of Oaxaca by federal forces on Sunday, October 29th that led to the death of four more people, including a minor, and the arrest of over 50 Oaxacan civilians. The police chief and several representatives of the Oaxacan government who were
photographed when they killed Brad, however, have not been arrested. The Mexican federal police are in Oaxaca to defend the corrupt government, not to end the conflict.

The Zapatistas declared on October 30: "The call is to create peaceful actions. The occupation of embassies, blockades, marches, encampments, meetings, and protests everywhere in the world on the 1st of November 2006 and again on the 20th of November of the same year. Let us create this global mobilization together on November 1st and November 20th.

"We demand the freedom of our compañeros political prisoners of the town of Atenco.
Our strength brothers and sisters, because we are the poor of the world, is that we fight together.
The people of Oaxaca are counting on us."

Please consider calling or sending faxes to Mexico's consular offices in your region (see list below by states).

We are asking you and/or your organization to take three actions beginning today November 1st. For a full list of phone numbers, fax numbers, addresses, and websites of Mexican consulates, check http://www.mexonline.com/consulate.htm (also see list below).

Call your local Mexican consulate right now.
Call to make sure the Mexican government gets your point. Organize phone
calling sessions with others. Call with your own spontaneous message and/or
stand in solidarity with the Asamblea Popular del Pueblo de Oaxaca (APPO) and
demand the following:
* Immediate withdrawal of the occupying Federal Forces from Oaxaca
* Immediate and unconditional freedom for all detainees!
* Cancel all arrest warrants!
* Punish the murderers!
* Justice! Freedom! Democracy!

SEND LETTERS VIA FAX AND PHONE CALLS TO THE NEAREST
Mexican government office in your area:

Embajada / Consulados Mexicanos - Arizona
Douglas
1201 F Avenue, Douglas, Arizona 85607
Tel: (520) 364-3142
Fax: (520) 364-1379

Nogales
571 N. Grand Ave., Nogales, Arizona 85621
Tel: (520) 287-2521
Fax: (520) 287-3175

Phoenix
1990 W. Camelback, Suite 110, Phoenix, Arizona 85015
Tel: (602) 242-7398 * Fax: 242-2957

Tucson
553 S. Stone Ave., Tuscon, Arizona 85701
Tel: (520) 882-5595
Fax: (520) 882-8959
Embajada / Consulados Mexicanos - California

Calexico
331 W. Second St., Calexico, California 92231
Tel: (760) 357-3863 * Fax: (760) 357-6284

Fresno
2409 Merced St., Fresno, California 93721
Tel: (559) 233-3065 * Fax: (559) 233-4219

Los Angeles
2401 W. Sixth St., Los Angeles, California 90057
Tel: (213) 351-6800 * Fax: (213) 389-9249

Oxnard
201 E. Fourth St., Suite 206-A, Oxnard, California 93030
Tel: (805) 483-4684 * Fax: (805) 385-3527

Sacramento
1010 8th St., Sacramento, California 95814
Tel: (916) 441-3287 * Fax: (916) 441-3176

San Bernadino
532 North D St., San Bernadino, California 92401
Tel: (909) 889-9837 * Fax: (909) 889-8285

San Diego
1549 India St., San Diego, California 92101
Tel: (619) 231-8414 * Fax: (619) 231-4802

San Francisco
532 Folsom St., San Francisco, California 94105
Tel: (415) 354-1700 * Fax: (415) 495-3971

San Jose
540 North First St., San Jose, California 95112
Tel: (408) 294-3414 * Fax: (408) 294-4506

Santa Ana
828 N. Broadway St., Santa Ana, California 92701-3424
Tel: (714) 835-3069 * Fax: (714) 835-3472

Embajada / Consulados Mexicanos - Colorado
Denver
48 Steele St., Denver, Colorado 80206
Tel: (303) 331-1110 * Fax: (303) 331-1872

Embajada / Consulados Mexicanos - District of Columbia
Washington (Embajada de Mexico)
1911 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C., 20006
Tel: (202) 736-1000 * Fax: (202) 234-4498

Mexican Consulate / Embassy - Florida
Miami
5975 Sunset Dr., South Miami, Florida 33143
Tel: (786) 268-4900 * Fax: (786) 268-4895

Orlando
100 W. Washington St., Orlando, Florida 32801
Tel: (407) 422-0514 * Fax: (407) 422-9633

Embajada / Consulados Mexicanos - Georgia
Atlanta
2600 Apple Valley Rd, Atlanta, Georgia 30319
Tel: (404) 266-2233 * Fax: (404) 266-2302

Embajada / Consulados Mexicanos - Illinois
Chicago
300 N. Michigan Ave., 2nd Fl., Chicago, IL 60651
Tel: (312) 855-1380 * Fax: (312) 855-9257

Embajada / Consulados Mexicanos - Louisana
New Orleans
World Trade Center Building
2 Canal St., Suite 840, New Orleans, LA 70115
Tel: (504) 522-3596 * Fax: (504) 525-2332

Embajada / Consulados Mexicanos - Massachusetts
Boston
20 Park Plaza, Suite 506, Boston, MA 02116
Tel: (617) 426-4181 * Fax: (617) 695-1957
Embajada / Consulados Mexicanos - Michigan
Detroit
645 Griswold Ave. Suite 1700, Detroit, MI 48226
Tel: (313) 964-4515 * Fax: (313) 964-4522
Embajada / Consulados Mexicanos - Missouri
Kansas City
1600 Baltimore, Suite 100, Kansas City, MO 64108
Tel: (816) 556-0800 * Fax: (816) 556-0900
Embajada / Consulados Mexicanos - Nebraska
Omaha
3552 Dodge St., Omaha, NE 68131
Tel: (402) 595-1841-44 * Fax: (402) 595-1845
Embajada / Consulados Mexicanos - New Mexico
Albuquerque
1610 4th Street NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Tel: (505) 247-4177 * Fax: (505) 842-9490
Embajada / Consulados Mexicanos - New York
New York
27 East 39th. St., New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 217-6400 * Fax: (212) 217-6493
Embajada / Consulados Mexicanos - North Carolina
Charlotte
P.O. Box 19627, Charlotte, NC 28219
Tel: (704) 394-2190
Raleigh
336 E. Six Forks Rd, Raleigh, NC 27609
Tel: (919) 754-0046 * Fax: (919) 754-1729
Embajada / Consulados Mexicanos - Oregon
Portland
1234 S.W. Morrison, Portland, OR 97205
Tel: (503) 274-1450 * Fax: (503) 274-1540
Embajada / Consulados Mexicanos - Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
111 S. Independence Mall E, Suite 310
Bourse Building, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Tel: (215) 922-3834 * Fax: (215) 923-7281
Embajada / Consulados Mexicanos - Texas
Austin
200 E. Sixth St., Suite 200, Austin, Texas 78701
Tel: (512) 478-2866 * Fax: (512) 478-8008
Brownsville
724 E. Elizabeth St., Brownsville, Texas 78520
Tel: (956) 542-4431 * Fax: (956) 542-7267
Corpus Christi
800 N. Shoreline Blvd. Suite 410, North Tower
Corpus Christi, Texas 78401
Tel: (512) 882-3375 * Fax: (512) 882-9324
Dallas
8855 N Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, Texas 75247
Tel: (214) 630-7341 * Fax: (214) 630-3511
Del Rio
300 E. Losoya, Del Rio, Texas 78841
Tel: (830) 775-2352 * Fax: (830) 774-6497
Eagle Pass
140 Adams St., Eagle Pass, Texas 78852
Tel: (830) 773-9255 * Fax: (830) 773-9397
El Paso
910 E. San Antonio St., El Paso, Texas 79901
Tel: (915) 533-3644 * Fax: (915) 532-7163
Houston
4507 San Jacinto St., Houston, Texas 77004
Tel: (713) 271-6800 * Fax: (713) 271-3201
Laredo
1612 Farragut St., Laredo, Texas 78040
Tel: (956) 723-6369 * Fax: (956) 723-1741
McAllen
600 S. Broadway Ave., McAllen, Texas 78501
Tel: (956) 686-0243 * Fax: (956) 686-4901
McAllen
511 W. Ohio, Suite 121, Midland, Texas 79701
Tel: (915) 687-2334 * Fax: (915) 687-3952
San Antonio
127 Navarro St., San Antonio, Texas 78205
Tel: (210) 271-9728 * Fax: (210) 227-7518
Embajada / Consulados Mexicanos - Utah
Salt Lake City
230 West 400 South, 2nd Floor, Salt Lake City, Utah 84047
Tel: (801) 521-8502 * Fax: (801) 521-0534
Embajada / Consulados Mexicanos - Washington
Seattle
2132 Third Ave., Seattle, WA 98121
Tel: (206) 448-3526 * Fax: (206) 448-4771
§Consulate Employee Tears Down Sign
by Mike Rhodes
600photo2.jpg
As I arrived, the person shown here was tearing down the protestors sign that honored the dead in Oaxaca. All photos by Mike Rhodes.
§Leaving with Half of the Sign
by Mike Rhodes
600photo3.jpg
§Activists Continue to Denounce the Repression
by Mike Rhodes
600photo4.jpg
§Justice and Liberty
by Mike Rhodes
600photo5.jpg
This is what this vigil is all about
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khuelga
Sat, Nov 4, 2006 6:02PM
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