From Below and To the Left: Zapatista z Autonomy and Resistance without End z
§ “we don’t have to ask permission to be free.” Comandanta Ramona 2001
§ “a social rebellion [as distinct from a revolution] never stops.” Subcomandante Marcos 2001 z ABSTRACT
§ When the Zapatistas rose up in arms on January 1, 1994, and shortly after began negotiations with the government, autonomy was not one of their demands.
§ How and why did autonomy emerge and nearly become synonymous with the Zapatista political project?
§ Scholars have claimed that autonomy is a challenge to neoliberal capitalism, settler colonialism, neoliberal multiculturalism, the patriarchal order of indigenous communities, and a heretofore unrecognized strategy of revolutionary non violence. What does it signify on the ground and in the political imaginary of the Zapatistas?
§ Why has the “autonomy” project held such resonance for solidarity and other activists globally, and how has it been re-imagined in distinct contexts?
§ What is the relationship between autonomy and other Zapatistas initiatives since 2006, most recently the postulation of an indigenous woman candidate for the presidency of Mexico in the election of July 2018? z SOURCES
§ Melissa Forbis, Engendering Autonomy: Indigenous Women’s Struggles and the State in Mexico [forthcoming]
§ Dylan Fitzwater, Autonomy Is In Our Hearts, Zapatista Autonomous Government Through the Lens of the Tsotsil Language, Hampshire College, Division III, 2016
§ Emily Keppler, The Zapatistas: A Graphic Novel, Hampshire College Division III
§ Tristan Cullen, Reimagining Revolution: The Zapatistas as a Decolonial Social Movement 2015
§ Max Carter, Moviendo Desde Adentro: Thirty Years of Zapatista Women’s Struggles, Hampshire College Division 3, 2017
§ El kilombo intergalactico, Beyond Resistance, Everything http://www.elkilombo.org/
§ Textbooks, Grade One, Zapatista Little School 2012 § 1983 EZLN forms in Lacandon Jungle z § 1994 § Jan 1 Uprising; NAFTA goes into effect
THE WORD: 1994-2003
§ Jan 12 Mutual cease fire in response to massive popular demonstrations
§ December: occupation of 38 municipalities, basis for today’s autonomous municipalities
§ 1995
§ Zedillo comes to power: proposes dialogue, unleashes counter insurgency
§ “Unmasking” of Marcos; popular demonstrations “We are all Marcos” z z § 1996
§ Feb: San Andres Accords signed
§ 1997
§ 2000
§ Fall of PRI to PAN: Fox will solve Chiapas in 15 minutes
§ 2001
§ March of the People of the Color of the Earth; Comandanta Esther speaks to the Congress
§ April: Congressional betrayal: all three parties vote for watered down San Andres Accords, no autonomy, no control over resources z z z z z § 2003.z AUTONOMY
§ Declaration of the caracoles: Prioritization of the construction of autonomy
§ Seven principles of Zapatista autonomous governance
§ 1. Serve and don't self-serve
§ 2. Represent and don't supplant
§ 3. Construct and don't destroy
§ 4. Propose and don't impose
§ 5. Convince and don't conquer
§ 6. Go below and not above
§ 7. Govern by obeying [Mandar obedeciend
§ Otra resumes in the North z
§ 2006:
§ Sexta and the Otrs
§ Atenco May; Otra suspended
§ APPO in Oaxaca
§ 2007
§ The Otra in the North
§ 2008 -10
§ Drug War in Mexico intensifies, violence against Zapatistas increases
§ 2011
§ Civil Society mobilizes against the War on Drugs, conflict over Zapatista- held land
§ Cherán Michoacan declares itself autonomous z § 2012:PRI returns to power, mass Zapatista mobilization
§ May: Peña Nieto on a campaign visit to a private university (Ibero) is questioned by students about his involvement in 2006 in the evictions at San Salvador Atenco when he was governor of Mexico state. a student movement #Yo soy 132 is born, inspired by the Spanish M15M and Occupy!
§ Dec 21, 2012:
§ Silent March
§ 2013-14:
§ Death of Marcos, Rebirth of Galeano
§ Little School [December and January]
§ September 26: Ayotzinapa
§ 2017:
§ Candidacy of Maria de Jesús Patricio Martinez § ‘Si el mundo no tiene lugar para nosotr@s, entonces otro mundo hay que hacer”’
Movement forz Justice in El Barrio invites you to participate in the following workshop:
The 7 Organizing Principles of the Zapatistas
Thursday, November 30th at 6 pm
Movement for Justice in El Barrio is a majority-women, immigrant-led community organization fighting for dignity and against displacement in East Harlem, NYC. Movement is committed to community self-determination, participatory democracy and collective decision-making.
The 7 Organizing Principles of the Zapatistas convey a different way of movement building - from below and to the left - to construct another world “un mundo donde quepan muchos mundos”. In this workshop, participants analyze real-world scenarios involving those in power through the lens of the Zapatista principles and devise alternate outcomes to reflect these principles.
Throughout this interactive and participatory process, participants derive concrete lessons by reflecting on the Zapatistas 7 principles and develop tools and a collection of best practices to incorporate in their movement building and fight for social justice.
The workshop is free. If you are interested in attending or want more information, contact Movement at: [email protected] z
§ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjVfY81wbF8 § Harvestz Movement Principles
§ Statement of Purpose: We are a nonviolent movement that seeks protection, dignity and respect for all immigrants.
§ Our values: Family, Respect, Opportunity
§ 1. Monkey see, monkey do We lead by inspiring and suggesting, never by commanding. Our leaders are but trusty servants; they do not govern. We all take initiative and respect those of others. It’s not about one idea; it’s about many good ideas. As we continue embodying/living out movement values, we remember that principles come before personality.
§ 2. We are all a family This movement welcomes everyone from different countries, ethnicities, races, genders, sexual orientations, religious and spiritual beliefs. We know the wisdom of our movement comes from the voices that are often the most silenced. Since the dominant language can take over a space and silence the people who don’t feel comfortable with the words, we have the “multilingualrule”which is about making every space open to multiple languages. We operate in the languages that come easily to ourcommunity. § 3. There is no cover for this party. You don't need permission to participate in this movement. This becomes a reality when we see howz our “3 activist rule” works. The rule says that when 3 people decide to become activists in Harvest, they can form a circle and get full support from the movement. We make our own decisions in our circles and we choose to participate in the activities of the movement that we feel most excited about. We can party together as long as we follow the principles of our Harvest. There is no dresscode for this party. Our movement needs musicians, artists, dancers, creatives, mothers, daughters, workers, street intellectuals,poets, academics, students, etc. We encourage risk taking because the diversity of our creativity will help us find the most effective strategies, tools, actions, and virialization of ourmovement.
§ 4. We don’t dance with political parties.
§ 5. Our weapon is noncooperation
§ 6. Our shield is non-violence z z z