Teacher Rebellion in Oaxaca

• subscribe to print magazine

• stay in touch with our email newsletter

  Subscribe to our regular weekly e-mail newsletter. It's packed with updates on recent and upcoming stories, events, campaigns and things every progressive should be informed about.

   

• email this article to a friend

  Your Name Your Email Recipient Email

  Personal message Thought you might be interested in this article from In These Times.

   

  Please help us prevent spam by verifying the word you see in the image above

  Send to multiple recipients. Just separate each email address with a comma.

• Reader Comments (6)

  Page 1 of 1 pages

  Why can’t we get that kinda movment in this country?  Were too lazy I guess, or maybe just not desperate enough yet.

  Posted by Vanella on Aug 21, 2006 at 8:50 AM

  Vanella -

  I think you have it right on both counts.  Oaxaca is an extremely poor and oppressed state.  Over 70% of the citizenry is indigenous, which in Mexico means dirt poor.  The governor and staff are extraordinarily corrupt, and the military acts as a murderous and suppressive force, particularly post-Zapatista uprising, circa 1994.  Those who organize resistance in southern Mexico are among the bravest people you’ll ever meet.  Disappearances of protest leadership are common. 

  In short, we don’t know how good we have it.  Or, we do know, and don’t feel like risking it anytime soon.  I wonder, though: if a group in the US - say the NYC Teachers’ Union - tried to pull something like this, would the people even support them?

  Posted by rocco on Aug 22, 2006 at 1:53 AM

  A movement like this would be difficult to establish in this country. One reason is because we lack a true opposition on the political front that can effectively organize and support social movements. I would also say that Mexicans are much more aware of the fact that mainstream media is usually propaganda and know to distrust it. In the U.S. the media controls opinion and conceals truth.  A supposedly “liberal” New York Times has never supported labor in a strike or condemned a foreign intervention. ANd the third reason has already been mentioned : ingorance is bliss...life seems fine to most americans and they don’t want to risk changing that.
  That said, it is possible and will happen in time. The government and media suppressed the civil-rights’ movement for years before it the nation embraced it.

  Posted by kevin on Aug 22, 2006 at 4:03 AM

  Our government is notoriously corrupt, just that the corruption is called legal bribery. There is a great deal of inequality but the poorest are a relatively despised minority.  Political fascism is strong in our society and many of the potentially radical have been co-opted.  However, there is a tradition of political liberty and as our liberties are taken away many people will be pissed.  We have a capitalist system and it is always potentially unstable so the chances are about 60/40 against a revolt, but there is still a chance.

  Posted by Spinoza750 on Aug 23, 2006 at 9:33 PM

  I was on a trip in Oaxaca and we were there the night that the police tear gassed the Zocalo. A couple of the people on my trip were staying about two blocks from the Zocalo and they were awakened to screaming, police lights, and a room full of tear gas. Later that day we had to pick up part of our group at thier hotel for fear of the protesters and we were unable to go to Casa Hogar because the teachers were planning on protesting close to there and our oganizers decided not to put us in jepoardy by having us close to there. Although we were unable to go to the orphanage we sent the supplies to them and they sent us a letter of appreciation.

  Posted by mauricia on Aug 25, 2006 at 10:38 AM

  i think great things can happen in oaxaca it is a very interresting situation and i think it is potentially revolutionary.it gathers mass support from the dispossed farmers and workers of the state.i wish i could go ther rigth now because there i would get precious political education. its a great exampmlr of class struggle

  Posted by jakkk on Oct 19, 2006 at 2:47 AM

  Page 1 of 1 pages

• register a new account »Posting Security

  To participate in our forums, please register for a free account.

  Username Password

    Remember me
  

  Retreive lost password »

Also by John Gibler

• Death Squads in Oaxaca
  The Mexican government ignores the assassination of two community radio activists
• Mexico’s Ghost Towns
  The other side of the immigration debate
• Counterinsurgency in Chiapas
  
• Militarizing Mexico’s Drug War
  More than 1,000 police officers, soldiers and members of enemy cartels have been killed this year as President Calderon has turned up the heat
• Street Battles in Oaxaca
  
• Oaxaca in Crisis
  Just as the teacher's strike in Oaxaca appeared ready to end, paramilitary violence breaks out.