Oaxaca Today, Peace Without Justice: Neoliberalism and Indigenous Resistance

Oaxaca Today, Peace Without Justice: Neoliberalism and Indigenous Resistance
(Oaxaca Hoy, Paz Sin Justica: Neoliberalismo y Resistancia Indigina)

Monday, April 7th 7-9 pm

Multi Media Workshop:
video, presentation & discussion

This multi-media workshop/presentation will include scene selections from three films: "El Enemigo Común" (2005), "El Machete" (2007) and "Paz Sin Justicia" (2008) in order to illustrate neoliberal atrocities and community based resistance to them in Oaxaca, Mexico.

The first film documents paramilitary activity in Oaxaca from 2000-2005, leading up to the arrival of Ulises Ruiz Ortiz, Oaxaca's current governor. The second film has been filmed and edited by indigenous women and youth from communities in Oaxaca, during the winter of 2007, and documents a more profound look at the day to day struggles for land, water, transportation, culture, dignity, justice, liberty, and peace.

The final film will be a Bay Area premier of "Paz Sin Justicia," a 41 minute film by the Committee in Defense of the Rights of the People - CODEP, examines what Oaxaca looks like today in 2008, and what it really means for Oaxaca to return to normal after the 2006 uprising. Corruption, institutionalized repression, and economic slavery are the standard through which, a weak government attempts to hold itself together, and stay in power.

Videos/workshop presented by Simón Sedillo a community based human rights film-maker has spent the last 6 years documenting and teaching community based video in indigenous communities in Oaxaca, in immigrant communities in the US, and with youth of color across the US.

The event will also feature a report back by a local SF organizer about his recent 2 month trip to Oaxaca working with CODEP and Casa Chapulin. He will provide action steps people in the US can take to support Oaxaca and stop Bush's new proposal, the repressive "Plan Mexico".