Every major social movement has its music, its anthems, its songs. Music tells the story of a people, their dreams, their hopes, their vision for a different world. But what happens when the music crosses borders to embrace new cultures?

In the U.S., people of color have been turning more and more to the Zapatismo as a source of hope and as proof that, as the Zapatistas say, a different world is possible.

Rhythms of Zapata is a half-hour documentary on the Chicano-Zapatista movement of East Los Angeles, where a number of Chicano artists inspired by the Zapatistas have been using music to raise awareness in their own communities and to struggle for a better world.

Featuring:

  • Luv the Messenger – Rapper and youth activist
  • Marisol – Performance artist and activist, member of Chusma, In Lak Ech, Self-Help Graphics, Chicano Records and Films
  • Nico – Poet and youth activist – member of Poets del Norte
  • Xela – Rapper and youth activist – member of Cihuatl-Ce
  • Olmeca – Hip-hop artist and activist
  • Joel García – Graphic artist and activist
  • Tolteka – Hip-hop artist and activist
  • Roberto Flores – Researcher and Zapatista activist
  • Elisa Mejía – Activist, member of Radio Insurgencia Femenina (KPFK, Los Angeles), member of Center for Popular Action
  • Colectivo Error – Musicians and activists
  • Sherman Austin – Hip-hop artist and activist against police violence
  • Cynthia, Priscila, Crystal – fans at concert
  • Dan Nemser – Student at UC Berkeley and Zapatista activist
  • Joaquín Cienfuegos – Member of Cop Watch Los Angeles and Revolutionary Autonomous Communities
  • Manuel Macías – Supporter of Cop Watch Los Angeles
  • Josefina Macías – Member of Cop Watch Los Angeles and Revolutionary Autonomous Communities
  • Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos

Music by:

Cihuatl-Ce

Olmeca

Tolteka

Fuga

Dialated Peoples

Banda Bassotti

Flor de Fango

Tijuana No

Aztlán Underground, and

Colectivo Error

Collectives and organizations:

Eastside Café

5469 Huntington Drive

El Sereno, CA 90032

Eastsidecafe_contact@yahoo.com

http://eastsidecafe.revolt.org/Main/HomePage

Cop Watch Los Angeles

235 W. Martin Luther King Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90037

copwatchla@riseup.net

www.copwatchla.org

www.myspace.com/copwatchla

Revolutionary Autonomous Communities rac@riseup.net

Radio Insurgente www.radioinsurgente.org