The people of Oaxaca have not backed down – through days of courageous fighting, they have managed to protect their radio station at the university, repelling machine gun wielding armored police with only sticks, stones, and hope. On November 5, tens of thousands marched through the streets of Oaxaca, calling for the federal police to leave.

The only reason that hundreds more have not yet been killed in Oaxaca is that the Mexican government fears the response that would engender in Mexico and across the world. Those who have organized solidarity demonstrations at Mexican consulates can congratulate themselves on helping, however slightly, to deter the Mexican government from ordering a bloodbath.

That bloodbath will still take place, however, unless we continue to escalate the pressure upon President Fox’s government to withdraw federal forces from Oaxaca. The EZLN has announced that it will help coordinate a nationwide shut-down on November 20. This must be matched with international actions to show that the world has not taken its eyes off Oaxaca, that on the contrary, the mobilization in support of those who struggle there is only gathering momentum.

On November 20, blockades will be set up to show the Mexican government we mean business. We are calling upon YOU to join in these blockades. That could mean blockading the consulates’ websites, jamming their phone lines with calls about the conflict in Oaxaca, occupying the offices of the consuls, or shutting down the roads around the consulates in whatever way you see fit.

If we do not show Vicente Fox that paramilitaries and federal forces cannot brutalize Oaxaca with impunity, the blood of an entire murdered resistance movement will be on our hands. Now is the time to act in solidarity with those who struggle in Oaxaca, in solidarity with the Zapatistas who have called on us to support them, and in solidarity with all who struggle against government and capitalism across the world.

Actions are already being planned in cities around the US. Please plan actions in yours.

source: http://elenemigocomun.net/391

Download, print and distribute flyers!

Music from Ryan Harvey & Mark Gunnery of Riot Folk Records

Billingual presentation from Miguel Zafra
Native Oaxaqueño and member of the Frente Indigena de Organizaciones Binacionales (FIOB) will discuss what led to the rise of the movement in Oaxaca.

Film Screenings of
Granito de Arena
The story of schoolteachers in Oaxaca, Mexico, and their grassroots struggle against the global dismantaling of public education.

Infamy in Oaxaca
The last video by Brad Will, NYC indymedia journalist killed in Oaxaca, October 27, 2006.

Days later, Karina Garcia and Gilchrest squared off on a nationally broadcast debate on Democracy Now. Gilchrist took off his microphone and tormed out of the studio in the first minutes of the debate. Although they were physically attacked by Minutemen on October 4, it is the anti-racist protesters who have been targeted by the media, university officials, and NYC mayor Bloomberg. Karina Garcia is telling the story of the anti-Minutemen protesters and the struggle against fascism and racism. She has been speaking to students and communities and in the mass media. All over the country, people are learning about this struggle and showing their support for the students at Columbia University.

Please Join Us!!!

Thursday, November 16th
5:30-6:45
Guvman room, next to the Cafe
Oakes College, University of California, Santa Cruz
150 Heller Drive, Santa Cruz

7:30-9:00
The Brown Berets Office
406 Main St (Suite 408b), Watsonville
Located behind Ritmo Latino Music Store

For more information please contact ANSWER Coalition at 415-821-6545
or email at answer@actionsf.org

Co-Sponsored by:
Youth and Student ANSWER
Watsonville Brown Berets
Santa Cruz Anti-Imperialist League

San Jose: Saturday, Nov 4, 6-11 pm The Other Side of Oaxaca: Vigil, Rally, Film Series

Check El Enemigo Comun for an ongoing list of events.

In response to Operation Return to Sender, residents of the Central Coast organized to form the Migra Watch Network to raise awareness of the racist federal policies that are directly affecting our communities. Operation Return to Sender came to Santa Cruz, Watsonville and Hollister on September 7 and 8, 2006. Of the 107 arrested, 90 have been deported while only 19 had criminal backgrounds or warrants, making most of those taken “collateral catches.” The operation is a project of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), a division of the Department of Homeland Security, and has conducted raids all across the country.

According to the Department of Homeland Security’s Executive Summary Ice Accomplishments In Fiscal Year 2006:

Through “Operation Return to Sender”, ICE arrested, closed the cases of, or otherwise removed 14,356 aliens from the fugitive/illegal population between May 26 and September 30, 2006. To date, 4,716 of the 14,356 aliens have been removed from the United States.

While the DHS claims these are accomplishments, what these attacks have really shown is the governments willingness to strike terror into the hearts of our neighbors in the name of security.

We will not forget the fear tactics used against our communities.

For more information email info@migrawatch.org