Can you imagine, here in the U.S., 70,000 teachers gathered to peacefully protest the unconstitutional actions of their so-called leaders? (Just got chills...) Well, that's exactly what's happening down in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Earlier today, perro-amarillo wrote a first-hand account as he watched the events unravel from afar.
Follow me over the fold to read an American educator's plea for the world to witness this building movement, as she describes her own experience of being in the crowd when the police began dropping the tear gas cannisters.
At great personal risk to herself, Lois Meyer, a University of New Mexico educator and a staunch opponent of NCLB, joined the increasingly violent protests in support of the indigenous community's efforts to improve education for its children.
Today's military actions were deadly and tomorrow, the teachers are determined to return in full force. They need the world to be watching when they do.
Here's Lois Meyer's account of what happened today, and her plea for us to at least KNOW what's going on down there.
I, for one, am inspired by their determination and the pure guts these teachers and their families have displayed in the past few days knowing the military was to push back at any moment.
Family, friends, colleagues, compañeros:
Early this morning the situation of the massive teacher strike and encampment in the center of Oaxaca took a violent turn. The teachers have been encamped for 23 days in the historic center of the city of Oaxaca, covering between 40-70 city blocks (depending on the report) with their sit-in. They are demanding increased educational supports (student breakfasts, increased salaries) and attention to quality education for Oaxaca´s indigenous and highly impoverished students
and communities. They are also calling the government to account for increased and violent repressions. The governor had given no response to their demands, their blockades, or their encampments - until early this morning.
By chance I asked to join the teachers last night, to stay with them in support and especially to learn more deeply from them about their commitments and organized actions. These are teachers I have collaborated with closely for 6 years. This past weekend we worked together on a public education campaign
in the encampment. Last night I asked and they accepted that I stay with them in their camp.
About midnight there was an intense rumor that the federal and state police were intending to clear out the encampment by force. All of the teachers in the encampment met in their educational zones and "jefaturas" (school districts) and organized. Scouts were sent out to assess any police movements in the streets. The report came back that there were no movements. Guards were set up throughout the encampment but everyone settled in to sleep, thinking that this was another threat of police action to spread fear, as had happened ten days ago on both Friday and Sunday nights. On that occasion, women teachers and their
children were moved to safe buildings but ultimately no action occurred.
About five this morning, the report came that indeed police were gathering on the fringes of the massive encampment. The teachers had organized barriers during the night, but it was clear that a massive police action was now expected. All of us were on alert, we took with us what we could easily carry, and held each other tightly as we began to move from the Zocalo through the
encampment toward the famous Santo Domingo church outside of the encampment. Originally the plan had been to congregate in the center of the Zocalo at the kiosk if any police action occurred. However, by the time we were
on alert, the kiosk was filled with people and quickly filled with police gases. We began to move out of the Zocalo, through the side streets toward Santo Domingo. Since all of these streets were part of the encampment, it was difficult going, with many tents and hundreds of people moving, trying not to panic. (It is
calculated that some 70,000 Oaxacan teachers are part of this strike). The gases were now filling the streets and it was difficult to breathe.
Suddenly we saw a huge wooden door open to one of the buildings along our path (the School of Law, for those who know Oaxaca). About 500 of us went into the Law School for safety. We were technically still within the blocks of the encampment, but the Law School had never been publicized as a safe building for the teachers in case of police action. Whoever ordered that door to open to us certainly saved many of us from brutal attack and perhaps from death.
We hid inside the Law School for 5 hours. At first we stayed as quiet as 500 frightened people could stay, including many mothers and several children. It was amazing that there was no panic. When police helicopters buzzed
overhead dropping gas we moved away from the open central patio. Then the word came that we were all to move into the classrooms in case the police broke in and there was hand to hand confrontation. We were in the classrooms for
perhaps another two hours. Two teachers had radios so we were hearing the news reports (it was now after 8 a.m.). Police were forcing those teachers who had taken refuge in San Felipe Neri church out with teargas. We could hear
the gas cannisters pop and the helicopters overhead, and on the radio we heard the shouts and cries of the teachers. We were not sure whether the government forces knew where we were hidden. Rumors raged wildly. Thanks God for cell phones because the teachers were getting the word out for help and trying to
coordinate plans.
Finally about 10 a.m. the word came that there were marches of teachers coming to liberate us. This was both thrilling and terrifying since rumors were so hard to confirm or disprove. Water was passed around to that we could each wet some rag or piece of cloth to cover our faces to deter the gases. The doors to the street were opened and, holding each other tightly, we began to move out of
the building. We had no idea what we would encounter.
Thank God, the faces that met us were teachers, armed only with bats and poles, but assuring us that they had forced the police back and that we
could proceed out of the encampment safely. They were asking about our safety, we were crying and thanking them. It was an amazing, humbling, incredible sight. As we walked the blocks to safely, we passed another march by an organization of rural parents coming in support of the teachers. As I have been writing this email, another march of parents entered the city. It looks and feels as though the pueblo of Oaxaca has taken up arms against this repressive governor and government. We will see what the next days bring, as this kind of popular uprising is sure to bring about increased repression.
There has been amazing solidarity by people in the streets. A teacher came out to us and invited us into her home, to use her bathroom, and offered us food and drink. After walking many more blocks away from the Zocalo, we were able to get a taxi and get to our homes.
To my knowledge, all of the 500 of us who took refuge in the Law School were liberated by the teachers without harm. We were blessed.
As I walked to an internet cafe to send this internet, teachers are standing in groups at critical corners throughout the historic downtown. I understand they have retaken the Zocalo. They are undefeated and surely this stupid police action has future militarized people throughout the state.
There have been some teachers detained and some people wounded. I understand there was at least one death. Whatever you read or hear, please know that the teachers were unarmed. There was no resistance as we fled the Zocalo. I believe some teachers began to resist with bats and poles when they saw how brutal the police attack against unarmed people was.
I ask that you please spread this word as widely as possible. I will try to keep you informed as best I can. The teachers and the pueblo of Oaxaca need your support, your anger, and your prayers at this time.
But please know, they are NOT defeated!
Lois Meyer U. of New Mexico from Oaxaca
lsmeyer@unm.edu
Please send this brave soul some words of support and let her know you read this here on Kos so she knows the word is out.