Oaxaca's Grassroots Struggle

November 20, 2006 Dear Friends,

Now that the elections are over, we in MUSTE the peace movement must increase our News from the A.J. Muste Memorial Institute efforts to end US military presence in Iraq and elsewhere, and to pursue an agenda that promotes and restores civil liberties, economic equality and justice to all parts of our society. Your support for the Muste NOTES Memorial Institute will help keep this movement growing stronger. VOL. 14, NUMBER 2 WINTER 2007 Please take a moment to read the enclosed letter from five World War II draft resisters who share a unique perspective as Grantee Profile: peace makers. Their movement seemed small in the face of the overwhelming push Oaxaca’s Grassroots Struggle for war at the time. But they and their comrades accomplished much in the years In December 2005, the Muste Institute that followed. granted $2,000 to the Chiapas Peace House Today, the Muste Institute funds small Project, which in 2003 established a center groups because we know these efforts help for education and solidarity in the southern lead to bigger changes. We don’t know Mexican state of Chiapas, CASA de la Paz. where the next mass nonviolent movement Our grant helped set up a similar center in will take hold, but we know our early sup- neighboring Oaxaca state: CASA Chapulin. port can make the difference. (In Spanish, CASA stands for Collectives of Please send in your contribution today. Support, Solidarity and Action.) Let’s work together toward a New Year CASA Chapulin opened its doors in that brings us all closer to a more just and the southern Mexican city of Oaxaca as peaceful world. a center for international solidarity, Child wearing a mask to protect her from education, and activism in September of police tear gas on the streets of Oaxaca. In peace, this year, only to find itself in the middle of a conflict which captivated The night before the PFP entered the the nation, and the world. city, Oaxaca was filled with anxiety for Starting in the last week of October, its citizens. Glued to our radio, we lis- Murray Rosenblith Federal Preventive Police (PFP) heli- tened to the calls for peaceful resistance Executive Director copters began to circle the city of and reinforcement at the barricades Oaxaca, descending menacingly low. under attack. At 2am there was a knock While they had entered with the pre- at our door—a friend who had been at a Mexico for human rights abuses. The text of being peacekeeping troops, it nearby barricade and run for his life state has the largest indigenous popula- soon became clear that they had allied when 40 paramilitaries, men paid by tion in Mexico, and the highest levels of themselves more or less with the state the governor and dressed in civilian poverty. The state has been ruled by the governor, Ulises Ruiz Ortiz, who has clothing, showed up and opened fire. political party PRI for over 70 years. been actively repressing the social Oaxaca has been the site of extraordi- The Chiapas Peace House Project movement for the last five months. nary mobilization since May 22, when began to plan the opening of an office in 70,000 teachers declared a strike and occu- Oaxaca after Ruiz assumed power in K

Ö pied the streets with basic demands of 2005 and human rights violations esca- Ö B salary increases and free books and uni- lated. Our first volunteers arrived in A R September 2006, and found themselves U forms for poor students. State police A L responded by violently removing the in the middle of an impressive grass- Y B

S teachers from the occupied historic center roots uprising where there seems no end O T to the creativity and will of citizens. To

O of the city, using dogs, helicopters, tear H P gas and firearms. The teachers regrouped demand the governor’s resignation and and took back the city’s center, but the attention to their demands, Oaxacans police violence triggered a massive public have engaged in “mega-marches,” civil outcry out of which was born the Popular disobedience, strikes, sit-ins, disruption Assembly of the People of Oaxaca (APPO), of traffic and hunger strikes, and have made up of some 400 social organiza- spread their message through music, tions, collectives, and individuals. street theater and public art including Oaxacans rose up because they felt graffiti, sculptures, sand murals, and The people’s “Megamarch” in Oaxaca on indignant at the use of force against altars for assassinated activists. October 29. “Enough of being sacrificed, peaceful protesters, and at the many CASA Chapulin volunteers work for silenced, assassinated. [Governor] Ulises and years of political repression they have local organizations seeking to address the PFP [federal police], get out of Oaxaca.” endured. Oaxaca now ranks first in continued on page 2 2 • Muste Notes Vol. 14/No. 2 5 6 3

New Developments N A L S A F

An update on projects funded by the Muste Institute Y B

O T

On October 1, 2006, more than eighty women activists kicked off Faslane 365, a O H year-long nonviolent blockade of the Trident nuclear weapons base in Faslane, P Scotland. Over 55 affinity groups from peace, justice, environmental and human rights organizations have committed to blockading the base in two-day shifts. The opening Oct. 1-3 rota was led by the “Greenham women,” nonviolent activists who held an encampment on Britain’s Greenham Common from 1981 to 2000 to protest the storage of cruise missiles at a US airbase there. “We wanted to make a link between the success of the women’s peace movement of the 1980s and the start of these Faslane blockades,” explained Faslane 365 coordinator Angie Zelter. The Greenham women knit as they blockade the Muste Institute granted $1,718 in April 2006 for the September 9 public launch Trident nuclear weapons base in Faslane on event for the blockades. For reports and photos, see www.faslane365.org. October 2. Oaxaca continued from page 1 underlying roots of social problems in The resilience of the movement became Rights to develop a program for interna- Oaxaca, in the areas of women’s rights, clear, however, when, by 8am the next tional accompaniment, and continue to ecology, strengthening citizenship, alter- morning, the APPO had peacefully provide food and lodging to activists native education, and indigenous rights. occupied all twelve commercial radio who, amidst many illegal detentions, We are finding that there is much to learn stations in Oaxaca as a response to the disappearances and assassinations, fear from this movement, which calls for violence of the government, returning being victims of the violence instigated democracy and social justice, and where all but two stations the following day. by the state governor. For an unarmed citizens become active by taking a partic- One of the most important roles grassroots movement such as the one ipatory role in decision-making. CASA Chapulin has played is in that has developed in Oaxaca, interna- One CASA Chapulin volunteer divulging information. The international tional solidarity is crucial. To find out helped out with the organization of the press has tended to portray the conflict what you can do to support the people of “Citizens’ Initiative for Dialogue as a clash between government forces Oaxaca, or to gain a deeper under- towards Peace, Democracy and Justice and “subversives,” ignoring the peaceful standing of the political dynamics in in Oaxaca,” one of numerous assemblies movement’s basic demands for govern- Oaxaca, we invite you to visit our called by the people to discuss what ment accountability, transparency and website: www.casacollective.org they want government to look like, and respect for human rights. As a collective, —Diana Denham, CASA Chapulin to formulate proposals for structural we have written articles, given inter- and political change to benefit society as views and submitted photographs for The A.J. Muste Memorial Institute makes a whole. The citywide assembly was newspapers, magazines, and radios in small grants for nonviolent grassroots moderated by a woman from a local the US, Sweden, Finland and Italy, and activism for social justice. Our next dead- feminist organization and included have helped organize solidarity actions line for proposals is February 9, 2007. speeches in three indigenous languages. in these countries. We are collaborating Guidelines are at www.ajmuste.org. Freedom of expression has been at with the Oaxacan Network for Human the core of the struggle in Oaxaca. The voice of the teachers union, Radio Plantón, was destroyed by local police on June 14, but Radio Universidad Swann Fund stepped in as the new voice of the With a generous gift from an anonymous donor, the Muste Institute has movement. On August 1st, some 2,000 started the Swann Fund to further expand our support for nonviolence training women of the APPO peacefully took and organizing. The fund is named in honor of Marjorie Swann Edwin and her over the previously state-run television late ex-husband Robert Swann. The Swanns were among the founders of the Channel 9, as well as Radio ARO, the Committee for Nonviolent Action and organizers of many of the significant paci- state radio, in order to further the voice fist, civil rights and anti-war actions in the 1950s and 1960s. They worked closely of the popular movement. On August with A.J. Muste for many years and helped organize the Omaha Action against 21st in the middle of the night, paramil- nuclear missiles, the Quebec-to-Guantanamo and San Francisco-to-Moscow itaries entered both the radio and TV walks for peace, and the Polaris Action campaigns. Bob Swann died in 2003. Marj station and destroyed all equipment. presently lives in California and remains a committed nonviolent activist. One activist who has received support The Swann Fund made its first grant in June: $50,000 for the Albert Einstein from CASA Chapulin, Diego, was at Institution’s work promoting practical applications of nonviolence. The Swann Radio ARO the night of the attack. "It Fund also provided support in 2006 for the Muste Institute’s International was terrifying. We were unarmed so all Nonviolence Training Fund and for our regular grantmaking program. The we could do was hit the floor to avoid Swann Fund does not accept applications. being hit by the bullets," Diego says. Winter 2007 Muste Notes • 3 D 5 6 O 3

O E

N INTF Makes New Grants W R A L O S N A

The Muste Institute’s International violent resistance to oppression and R E Y B G

Nonviolence Training Fund (INTF) coordinating nonviolent actions among N O I T G

stepped up grantmaking in 2006 with 12 different towns across the West Bank. Y H B P

new support from the Swann Fund and O

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S T the Samuel Rubin Foundation. The O H

PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE AND P fund’s past five grants are: JUSTICE CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, Chiang Mai, Thailand: $2,500 HUMAN RIGHTS AND This March 2005 grant went for three DEVELOPMENT (CEHRD) trainings with Burmese women living in Rivers State, Nigeria: $3,000 Indian border villages, carried out in Since 1999, this group has been nonvi- partnership with the Women’s League of olently confronting multinational oil Chinland, a coalition of women’s groups Burmese women take part in a nonviolence companies and the Nigerian govern- in Burma’s Chin state and Mizzoram, training organized by the International ment over the harmful effects of oil India. A total of 65 women were trained Women’s Partnership for Peace and Justice. drilling in the Niger delta. This June 2006 around issues of gender, power, collec- grant goes for a training to help women tive leadership, structural violence and gay-lesbian, human rights, ecology and in the Otuasega community of Bayelsa how to take action in the community. anti-militarism movements. State develop successful strategies in NONVIOLENCE TRAINERS PACE E BENE their struggle against Shell oil company. INITIATIVE-IZMIR Oakland, CA: $1,500 INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY Izmir, Turkey: $3,000 This June 2006 grant goes for a non- MOVEMENT-USA This group, formerly known as the violence training at an alternative Berkeley, CA: $2,845 Izmir War Resisters Association, focuses school in the Alberdi neighborhood of ISM works to build strategies for on spreading nonviolence training Rosario, Argentina. The training equips nonviolent resistance to the Israeli occu- throughout Turkey. This September 2005 participants with strategies and tools to pation. This June 2006 grant goes for a grant went for a one-week intensive challenge local police harassment; and series of trainings by and for “training of trainers” in May 2006 with seeks to develop a comprehensive non- Palestinians, sharing strategies of non- 18 Turkish activists from the women’s, violence training program for students.

For 15 years, the Hospitality Network New Grants, September 2006 has coordinated the efforts of faith- based organizations to provide services ARLINGTON WEST FILM AND keep people with criminal records from to homeless families in Philadelphia. SPEAKERS PROGRAM reintegrating into society. This grant This grant goes to organize a speakers goes to educate and mobilize the public Los Angeles, CA: $1,000 bureau of homeless and formerly home- against abuse of the Criminal Offender This project helps students in disad- less families to encourage shelter Record Information (CORI) system. vantaged communities make informed volunteers to go beyond service and decisions about war and military LIONESS MEDIA ARTS, INC. take action toward eradicating home- service through a screening of the film Forest Hills, NY: $1,550 lessness. “Arlington West,” followed by a ques- The Muste Institute made a grant in QUESTION WHY FILMS tionnaire, a talk from an Iraq war September 2004 for post-production New York, NY: $1,500 veteran and a parent of a soldier who expenses of Rachel Lyon’s documentary This grant goes to arrange screenings was killed, and an open discussion. “Race to Execution.” This grant goes for for New York City high school students EPOCA an outreach campaign for the film, with of the documentary film “Brother the goal of raising awareness about Worcester, MA: $2,000 Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin.” racism and the death penalty. Founded in 2004, EPOCA (Ex-pris- The screenings seek to generate dia- oners and Prisoners Organizing for NORTHWEST INTERFAITH logue and inspire youth around Community Advancement) works to HOSPITALITY NETWORK nonviolent action and racial and sexual break down institutional barriers that Philadelphia, PA: $2,000 equality.

Board of Directors David McReynolds Executive Director Superintendent Karl Bissinger Peter Muste A.J. Muste Murray Rosenblith Salvador Suazo Susan Kent Cakars Jill Sternberg James A. Cole Nina Streich Memorial Institute Program Associate Newsletter Designer Jane Guskin Judith Rew Christine Halvorson Robert T. Taylor 339 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10012 Melissa Jameson Martha Thomases phone (212) 533-4335 fax (212) 228-6193 Administrative Carol Kalafatic Diane Tosh e-mail: [email protected] Assistant Bernice Lanning John Zirinsky website: www.ajmuste.org Jeanne Strole Printed on Recycled Paper A. J. Muste Memorial Institute A. J. Muste Memorial Institute A. J. Muste Memorial Institute A. J. Muste Memorial Institute ESSAY SERIES ESSAY SERIES ESSAY SERIES ESSAY SERIES

ESSAY SERIES ON NONVIOLENCE

A. J. Muste Memorial Institute A. J. Muste Memorial Institute A. J. Muste Memorial Institute ESSAY SERIES #3: Henry David ESSAY SERIES #9:Aldous Huxley ESSAY SERIES #15: David

No. Thoreau – the – Twentieth Century 15 McReynolds – A. J. Muste Memorial Institute ESSAY SERIES original architect of visionary and prolific A. J. Muste Memorial Institute longtime activist with ESSAY SERIES

resistance – On the writer – Science, No. the War Resisters 14 Duty of Civil Liberty and Peace DAVID League, Socialist Party McREYNOLDS Disobedience presidential candidate A. J. Muste Memorial Institute A. J. Muste Memorial Institute A. J. Muste Memorial Institute qty:______A. J. Muste Memorial Institute ESSAY SERIES ESSAY SERIES ESSAY SERIES ESSAY SERIES A – A Philosophy of qty:______Philosophy JEANNETTE of RANKIN #10: Paul Goodman Nonviolence Nonviolence “Two Votes Against #4: Jessie Wallace – pacifist, anarchist, War” and qty:______Other Hughan – suffragist, activist – The Morality Writings peace activist, founder of Scientific Technology; on Peace Peace Agitator: of the War Resisters The Psychology of Being The Story of League – Pacifism and Powerless A.J. Muste, by Nat Hentoff #1: Martin Luther Invasion; On Duelling qty:______#13: (Spanish) A 250-page King, Jr. – America’s qty:______Martin Luther biography with leading apostle of #11: Some Writings on King, Jr. – Spanish many photos, human dignity – Loving #5: Emma Goldman War Tax Resistance – language translation profiling the Your Enemies; Letter – fiery orator, #7:A. J. Muste – thoughts, poems, tales of Loving Your ‘grandfather’ of A. J. Muste Memorial Institute A. J. Muste Memorial Institute A. J. Muste Memorial Institute A. J. Muste Memorial Institute from a Birmingham Jail; anarchist,ESSAY SERIES agitator ESSAYfor SERIESforemost ESSAY20th Century SERIES fromESSAY resisters, SERIES Enemies, Letter from the U.S. peace Declaration of peace and liberation – Pacifist theoretician and including Juanita a Birmingham Jail and movement – Independence from the Preparedness:The Road activist, minister, Nelson,Allen Ginsberg Declaration of minister, labor War in Vietnam. Also to Universal Slaughter; socialist – Who Has the and Pete Seeger Independence from activist, pacifist and resister. available in Spanish – The Individual, Society Spiritual Atom Bomb? the War in Vietnam. qty:______Introduction by see #13. and the State qty:______qty:______Larry Gara. qty:______qty:______#12: Sidney Lens – qty:______#8: On Wars of peace and labor #14: Jeannette #2: Barbara #6: Rosa Liberation – three activist, socialist, Rankin – first Y Deming – the Luxemburg – essays on pacifistRIL occasional political woman in Congress, Wear Your RA T feminist connection to courageous leader of responsesPO to armedRIN candidate – six articles suffragist, pacifist – Peace Shirt EM F P Muste Institute nonviolence – On Germany’s democratic freedomT T Ostruggles, spanning three decades “Two Votes Against War” OU t-shirts are black Revolution and socialist movement – including analysis of on the state of the U.S. and Other Writings on cotton with a four- Equilibrium Prison Letters Gandhi’s position labor movement Peace” color geometric qty:______qty:______qty:______qty:______qty:______design and the words: “There is no way to peace, peace The Essays of A.J. Muste is the way – A.J. The Essays of Muste” Available in Edited by Nat Hentoff, preface by Jo Ann O. Robinson. Originally issued in 1967, this new A.J.Muste large and extra E D I T E D B Y 500-page edition includes Muste’s “Notes for an Autobiography,” plus essays on pacifism, Nat Hentoff large. Shirts are P R E F A C E B Y Jo Ann O. Robinson civil rights, trade unionism and foreign policy, written between 1905 and 1966. made in the U.S.A.

SPECIAL OFFER: FREE SHIPPING!! If you use this form to order our Essay Series pamphlets, books or t-shirts, we will provide free shipping (via US mail, book rate). Send in your order today!

Essay Series Quantity Pamphlets (total qty:) _____ x $2.00 each ($1.40 each for 20 or more) $ ______1 Martin Luther King, Jr. _____ Sampler Pack _____ x $20.00 (one each of all 14 available pamphlets) $ ______2 Barbara Deming _____ The Essays of A.J. Muste: _____ x $20.00 * $ ______3 Henry David Thoreau _____ 4 Jessie Wallace Hughan _____ Peace Agitator: _____ x $5.00 * $ ______5 Emma Goldman _____ T-Shirts: (L)_____ (XL) _____ x $15.00 $ ______6 Rosa Luxemburg _____ I am enclosing a tax-deductible contribution for the Muste Institute’s 7 A. J. Muste _____ work promoting active nonviolence and social justice: $ ______8 On Wars of Liberation _____ 9 Aldous Huxley _____ * for bulk rates, contact the Muste Institute office 10 Paul Goodman _____ TOTAL ENCLOSED $ ______11 War Tax Resistance _____ SHIP TO______Please make check or money order 12 Sidney Lens _____ payable to AJMMI and send to: 13 Martin Luther King, Jr. (Spanish) ______A.J. Muste Memorial Institute 14 Jeannette Rankin _____ 339 Lafayette St. NY, NY 10012 15 David McReynolds ______