New Left Notes Mexican Movement Fights Continued Repression

Students for a Democratic Society 1608 West Madison Chicago, Illinois -Agitators- The Man let it be known through official "leaks* this week that indictments are about NEW to be issued against several "professional agitators" who travel to campuses to incite rebellion. The Justice Department claims to have "substantial evidence" and dossiers LEFT against such people—who presumably will be prosecuted under the Stokely Carmichael interstate riot act. People are reminded not to do the Man's work by giving him NOTES any information at all. Vol. 4, Number 11 LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE March 13, 1969 Mexico has a long history as a colony, first under the Mexico Spanish, then the French. Today, American business dominates the country. Last fall, more than 50 persons were murdered when they demonstrated for reforms: the struggle continues. For a look at Mexico's history and present situation, see page 2. Modern Greece exemplifies Greece the development of U.S. cold-war policy and its anti-communism. Litton Industries and the CIA helped make it that way. See story on page 2. Oil interests Middle East are strong here, where Al-Fatah is leading the struggle for National Liberation. For the third in a series, see page 4. O - -rm 5, Ö0Q O zSw5 3 .3 & w h s S The Berkeley strike is now in its seventh week. For an Z tri O Q analysis of what's going on (and not going on), see Page 8. 2 March 13,1969 New Left Notes Mexican movement fights continued repression by Bob Stewart marriage, confiscation of church lands, (In Mexico all schools of higher learning, By toe end of August, the struggle Chairman, Chicago and toe beginnings of agrarian reform. including vocational schools, are had begun to acquire toe characteristics Revolutionary Contingent However, because of the degeneration supposedly autonomous.) In response to of a mass movement, and toe largest of the Mexican government into a this incident the students at toe demonstration in toe history of Mexico To understand fully the events of last complete dictatorship of the moneyed Polytechnic Institute called a protest was held. On August 27, 700,000 people year in Mexico, as well as events in the classes under Porfirio Diaz and the demonstration for the 26th of July to gathered in toe Zocalo (the main square) future, it is essential to understand the growing influence of U.S. imperialism coincide with one called bythe university across from toe National Palace in history of Mexico. Unlike toe history (oil, textiles, mining, railroads), another in support of Cuba. Both demonstrations support of toe student demands. This we're taught in the U.S., it is not an upheaval was in toe making. And in 1910 were attacked by toe Granaderos. Two was the high point of the movement. abstract string of events seemingly the dam broke,ledbyFrancisco(Pancho) students were killed, 200 injured, and By this time 500,000 students were out unrelated to present-day activity, but Villa and Emiliano Zapata on toe left many were arrested. on strike throughout the country and rather an accumulation of experiences (peasants) and Francisco Madero, Comités de Lucha (struggle committees) that are manifested in Mexican political Alvaro ObregonandVeustanzioCarranza Demands, August Action wito a revolutionary perspective were life in a very direct way. Present-day on the right (bourgeoisie). Eight years The students responded by: 1) forming being formed not only in schools but Mexicans can relate political questions of civil war took place, first against the National Strike Council, 2) going out also in factories and workers' to events that took place centuries ago, the Diaz regime, and then between toe on strike (200,000 students), 3) drawing neighborhoods, and among peasants. and so have a sense of continuity wito left and right forces as well as against up six demands calling for freedom for history that makes political struggles U.S. invasions in 1914 and 1917. Though political prisoners, disbanding of toe Naturally, the government wasn't seem toe natural course of events the forces of the left lost, toey left Granaderos, etc., 4) setting up political happy. The Olympics were approaching rather than being unusual. a mark toat still remains, giving the brigades to get their side of the story fast and no amount of intimidation struggle an anti-feudal, anti-imperialist out to toe people, and 5) intensifying seemed to slow the movement down. Imperialist Invasion and anti-clerical character. Where toe the struggle in toe streets. Diaz Ordaz went on TV and radio revolutionary armies had not instituted During August there was at least one pledging to defend toe Mexican equivalent While Mexican history goes back over it themselves, toe government began of "Law and Order," but to no avail. 2000 years, the period of conquest is major demonstration a week, involving land reform. Where the foreign bosses tens, then hundreds of thousands of regarded as the beginning of modern had not already left, the government Repression Hits Hard history. Mexicans regarded toe conquest participants. While the demonstrations nationalized foreign enterprises. Today built solidarity and spirit among the period around 1520, when toe Aztec in Mexico all mining, petroleum, On September 19, toe government capital of Tenochtitlan was destroyed students and provoked bloody, but railroads, electricity, telephones and expensive, battles with the police made its most serious act of repression; by Cortez, not as the beginning of an telegraphs, as well as sections of the Mexican troops occupied the university, era of enlightenment and civilization, (Mexican students burn buses as a chemicals and metals industries, are means of hurting the government arrested everyone, including employees, but as toe opening battle in toe Mexican nationalized. and surrounded toe Polytechnic Institute, people's struggles against western financially). Political brigades worked painting slogans on wall s and distributing This was a serious blow to toe imperialism. Cortez, far from being movement, as it meant toe loss of more a hero, is regarded as a degenerate Popular Struggles Continue leaflets to workers. Students would jump on a bus (few Mexicans have cars) activists as well as the loss of a place and a thief, while Cuauhctemoc and The Mexico of today, however, is a of refuge and base of operations. Four Quitlac, two Indian chiefs who fought without paying, distribute leaflets, get far cry from toe revolutionary off at toe next stop, and get on another days of street fighting between students Cortez, are looked on as the first in expectations of Mexicans in toe 20's and and soldiers, wito many workers and a long line of resistance heroes. bus. In this manner the whole city was 30's; and the "revolution" which covered with leaflets in a short space working-class youth helping the Mexican schoolchildren are taught today Mexican politicians talk so much about students, followed the occupation. how their ancestors fought to toe last of time with a minimum of contact with has been abandoned in the face of U.S. the cops. Also, street meetings were Students used rifles and Molotov man against toe rifles and cannons of economic influence. U.S. factories like cocktails, and workers' wives helped the Spaniards. held in a sort of guerrilla-like fashion, General Motors, Ford, GJE., and since toe cops by raining down on toe cops various While toe Spaniards may have won Goodyear dot the landscape; Coca Cola would break up objects such as bottles, bricks, and the first round, toe Mexicans still signs cover storefronts, and Mexican any meeting tubs of ' hot water from apartment resisted. Uprisings by various Indian agricultural productivity has been very quickly. windows. Motorists would stop and allow groups, slave rebellions, and resistance increased (a benefit of the revolution)— students to siphon off gas. The to land seizures and feudal dues went on not to make Mexico self-sufficient in self-igniting Molotov cocktail was born for the next 300 years, the Spaniards food, but to provide cheap tomatoes, in the chemistry labs of toe Polytechnic livingparasitically off the sweat of toe oranges, lettuce, and cotton for the Indians and contributing nothing to toe U.S. markets. development of the country. It should also be understood that Mexican Resistance popular struggles have not stopped. In 1958 there was nearly a general Finally, about 1810, a Catholic priest strike, and toe Mexican peasants have named Hidalgo Gater excommunicated) put up a continual struggle for more started an uprising in the small town of land, modernized production, and higher by Stephanie On Dec. 3, 1944, the Athens EAM prices. In toe last four years there have Dolores, which, though defeated, sparked Rugoff and Beth called a demonstration in support of been four major peasant struggles in off a struggle that was finally able to Lyons, NYU SDS a larger voice for toe Resistance in throw «sut the Spanish. This struggle different parts of the republic. This is toe new government. 500,000 men, the setting for the student uprising of had a characteristic that is common to April 21, 1969 marks women, and children poured into the last year. all progressive struggles in Mexico: the second annivers - streets. The demonstration began it had a mass base of workers, peasants, In mid^July, 1968, a group of youths ary of toe Greek junta. peacefully. The demonstrators were slaves, artisans, and lower sections of from Vocational School Number 5 had The right-wing colonels attacked from hidden positions by the the clergy. This was not just a struggle a fight in which toe police intervened. seized control using police (some of whom had held toe same for a change in control; the struggle A battle between cops and students NATO weapons and the positions under the Nazis).

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