The first of May is recognized all over the world as international workers day.  For a century working people throughout the world have come together on May 1st to oppose state oppression, call out bosses for poor working conditions and also celebrate their solidarity and the power of their labor. Having been sparked by massive labor rallies calling for an 8 hour work day in Chicago’s Haymarket Square in 1886, May 1^st or May Day has escalated to level of an internationally celebrated day for those fighting for human rights.

Today in the United States many of these marches and protests being held on this day are in support of civil and labor rights for migrants. A significant part of the US working class comprises of migrants and this is a discussion we want to continue on today’s show.  So today on Relatos Zapatistas we will be playing clips from interviews taken today from San Francisco’s May Day march. In addition, we will be discussing the actions taken place in Tucson Arizona against the school board which is attempting to implement a band on ethnic studies. We will also update folks on the current hunger strike at UC Berkeley that began on Tuesday  of this week in defense of ethnic studies.

All of these cases represent different positions within the same kind of struggle. Different forms of struggle that have to do with the over arching umbrella theme of immigrants rights or migrants rights; people fighting to maintain their dignity in the face of exploitation and oppression.

Communiqué political prisoner Alberto Patishtan:(Descarga aquí)  

Read the communiqué in Spanish: (Continuar leyendo…)

La Otra Campaña Chiapas invita a sumarse a la
Gran Marcha del Silencio, 7 de mayo de 2011, 12 h
del Cidesi/Universidad de la Tierra a la Plaza Central(Descarga aquí)  
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A compañera from the Movement for Justice in El Barrio invites to the global action for the freedom of the 5 political prisoners from San Sebastián Bachajón, which will take place from April 24 to 28.

April 19, 2011, was the one-year aniversary of the death of Tatiana Trujillo Rodríguez, murdered by her hustand Elmar Darinel Díaz Solórzano, former federal deputy and PRI candidate as local deputy in 2010, who fled after committing the crime. Three months later he was detained for qualified homicide. However, he has still not been sentenced. On March 10, the federal court granted him an “amparo”, and he is likely to be released soon. In a press conference at the Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas Human Rights Center, Tatiana’s family denounced the impunity and injustice.

Denounciation by Tatiana Trujillo’s family:(Descarga aquí)  
Bulletin by Frayba:(Descarga aquí)  
Questions and answers:(Descarga aquí)  

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This month’s report focuses on the effects in Chiapas of the violence generated by the Federal government and the local counter-insurgency strategies in the context of the Mesoamerica Project, and warns of the dangers of armed conflict and reactivation of paramilitary groups in the state.

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Homage to our compañero Felipe Toussaint Loera, who died on April 9, 2011, with the voices of Jorge Santiago, founder of DESMI and president of CORECO; Cuauhtémoc Romero Villagómez, spokesman and member of the board of directors of CORECO; and the indigenous theologian Petul.(Descarga aquí)  

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In-depth interview with Alejandro Reyes on the current state of repression and low-intensity war in Chiapas being waged against Zapatista communities and human rights organizations. Topics include: big-picture analysis focused on the Proyecto Mesoamérica, “sustainable rural cities,” and ecotourism; detailed reports on repression in Mitzitón, Bachajón, Tila, and the coast region; and some implications of the death of Samuel Ruiz. All in the context of the recent letter from Subcomandante Marcos to Professor Luis Villoro, titled “Notes on War.”

Today, Monday 11 April, two days after being again disposessed of their lands, the compañeros from ejido San Sebastián Bachajón share their words with all of those who have been in solidarity with their problems. In Agua Azul, in the ejido Bachajón, there is a tense tranquility due to the presence of police and the army. The compañeros reaffirm their committment to continue struggling and ask the national and international community to stay alert to what may happen.
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