Here are selections from the responses we’ve received from our survey. Check back for updates.

Translation and editing where needed by Patrick

 

1. What is the most critical information that we can bring back from social movements in Mexico?

“The way they organize, that is to say, how they come together, dialog and make decisions. Also, the composition of the organizations, the work and specific role of women, children, youth, and indigenous groups.”

-Mario Canek, Mexico Solidarity Network, Chicago

“[Information about] autonomous struggles. Change, justice, and the recognition of our rights will not be achieved through electoral politics. Autonomous struggles are more transcendent and have more impact; traditional politics have been discredited.”

-Ricardo Juarez, Mexicans Without Borders, Virginia

“I think there’s always a need for check-ins around solidarity — how can we integrate the practice of solidarity into our work here? I think our ideas may have become stale; is showing up at the embassy once in a while really the best I can do? And asking the question prompts another: What kind of support is critical to us, what role can Mexican social movements play in our work?

But even more so , I think you should bring back a mirror. An opportunity for self-scrutiny, to size up another social movement and then notice what comes up for us, in our individual and collective responses to stories of joyful action, ambiguous progress and crushing defeat. Not to get too specific, but, being biased towards popular education, a participatory workshop around a specific social movement might be a much-needed opportunity to appreciate what we take for granted as activists here, and to learn new ways of movement building, or be reminded of old ones that still work. A short report of some kind contrasting different organizing methods and realities on the ground based on what you encounter might also help.”

-Andrew Willis, Community Organizer, ONE DC

¨what is happening in the silent spaces between the events we hear about (e.g. between major protests, people getting killed)? How does the rebellion sustain itself in the quiet times? Is it growing? I have heard about some conflict between APPO and other parts of the movement– what is the structure, ideal and actual, of APPO, and what is the relationship between the leadership and the rank and file?

What is the relationship between APPO and more reformist groups or NGOs on the one side, and on the other side anarchist youth groups, armed groups, specifically anarchist, indigenous, or Zapatista groups (such as COMPA)? How does use or denunciation of violence, presence or absence of explicit revolutionary goals play into this? How does foreign solidarity, especially from privileged countries (whether NGOs or white anarchists), affect or exacerbate the divides in the movement? How does the movement see or describe itself? What is its narrative of struggle, the beginning and end points (e.g. did it begin with URO or Columbus?) Can you describe indigenous analyses and stories of struggle– how are they different from Euro-American views of struggle/revolution, how are they similar? How do white Mexicans fit in the struggle? I’m also personally interested in what can be done in terms of international solidarity and support for the political prisoners there.¨

-Anonymous

¨I think any information that is brought back is valuable to our communities here because these movements and issues don’t receive mainstream attention, or if they do it’s very slanted and minimal. It is important to continue sharing information with folks here in el gabacho to let them know that these struggles are continuing, and what new developments are, even tho Oaxaca isn’t in crisis mode currently. It is important we know how we can support their struggles – specific ways they have identified for people to be in solidarity with them. On a basic level, many people are unaware of how US political & economic policy and our way of life in general is connected with oppression in other countries.¨

-Simon Walker, CASA volunteer/collective member, current CASA board member

2. How can we be accountable to revolutionary social movements across borders? For example, what connections can be strengthened between organizing in the U.S. and in Mexico?

“Naturally, when I came to the U.S. I was with workers, and migrant workers. In this historical moment I think it’s extremely important to work and organize with migrant workers and organizations with a migrant base. In particular, I believe the labor and migrant worker movement critically needs allies and support from all organizations working for justice and critical of the U.S. Because the labor problem in the U.S. has to do with the working conditions of the workers themselves. On top of stopping the war, and the struggle for our civil rights, radical organizations in the U.S. should build bridges and alliances with migrant workers across the border and in key cities like D.C., Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta, Oakland, etc.”

-M.C.

“The struggle against social inequality, poverty, and the privatization of public property, that is to say the struggle against capitalism, is the connection with revolutionary potential. We have to question the legitimacy and existence of the establishment as forcefully as possible”

-R.J.

“This is a question for someone more connected to organizing in both places; NDLON comes to mind. But it would be helpful if the workshop suggested above were available in Spanish. What might also be useful, if more ambitious, would be a workshop or presentation of some kind about the immigrant rights movement here, to present to folks in Mexico, which could incorporate recent developments in places like Prince William County. Or, for that matter, a presentation on where US’ers are with our own movement for democratic accountability and autonomy. It would be fascinating to hear the responses of organizers in Mexico. “

-A.W.

¨I trust you all to figure that out. Be honest and sensitive but also be aware of that Christian self-flagellation. I think constantly bringing one’s privilege to the foreground, besides being crippling, also makes it about you, and probably isn’t so fun for the person you’re communicating with. Just be honest about what you want and find out what they want, see if it’s compatible. I think you both have perfectly legitimate reasons to believe in revolution and to be excited by what’s happening in Oaxaca– privileged people are also legitimate people existing on the same continuum as oppressed people and it doesn’t help to be self denying. Good luck navigating the minefield of history.¨

-Anonymous

¨For me, I try to work in a way where I am recognizing my own privilege and to work in a way that is respectful to the people who are organizing these movements. It is their struggle. It is important to understand how they want us to be involved, what support they are asking for, and to follow thru on agreements. A big part of the accountability is sharing information, organizing, fundraising and hosting events here in the US to raise awareness of struggles. And, on a long term level, we need to organize ourselves better and address pressing needs here in our home communities, to stand in solidarity with groups and communities here that are continually struggling here, often unseen and unrecognized, for justice. If we are better organized here, and actively addressing issues here, we are better able to support and struggle with other movements across the globe.¨

-S.W.

3. What questions would you ask organizers in Oaxaca, e.g. from within APPO?

“In addition to the autonomous organization of civil resistance, what can we do in the future to create something like a Popular Assembly? Can we put our experiences into practice as forms of autonomous, formal representation, like as a Popular Assembly? Why haven’t you left Oaxaca to organize with other civil groups, or to create a National Popular Assembly for example?”

-M.C.

“With the lack of economic resources that we face, what are alternatives for effective organizations in our movement? And how do we maintain unity amidst the aggression that seeks to destroy base building organizations?”

R.J.

“How do you understand and practice leadership development? What tools and curricula do you use?
What are the top 5 challenges you face in doing movement building in the current political and economic climate? One common way of understanding oppression is to say that there are pillars of support holding up an oppressive power, and our job is to chip away at that support until the pillars fall away. What is the current strategy for doing that in Oaxaca? How far along do you think you are?

To flip the analogy, you can also say that there are pillars holding up revolutionary movements — sectors of society, repression & the political status quo, economic conditions, a broad political shift. What is enabling the growth of your movement? If you feel it’s stagnant or shrinking, what is causing the retreat?”

-A.W.

¨See number one. Also, to add to those questions– how do organizers there feel about international support actions, including info events, embassy protests, fundraisers, groups that prepare volunteers to go over to oaxaca, and attacks on consulates and Mexican interests? How does this differ with the class, race, and professional status of the people you ask? How do they feel about the groups that carried out some armed actions after the repression of autonomous Oaxaca last fall? (not sure if you’ll ever get to a trust level with anyone to ask this safely) How do they feel about the attention given to Brad Will?¨

-Anonymous

¨How the asemblea is structured, how decisions get made, and who makes them. What are their current projects and plans for the future. ¨

-S.W.

4. Do you have any other thoughts/resources that might serve us while there?

cml.vientos.info/

-M.C.

“The system has separated us, it forces us to migrate, it displaces us from our own land, but the unity of our struggles here and in Mexico is found in our people, in justice, and the rights for which we fight become ours only through mutual solidarity. In this struggle borders don’t exist.”

-R.J.

“I read this essay right before I went to Chiapas for the first time, on a solidarity delegation: http://www.swaraj.org/illich_hell.htm

I’ve also found it helpful to read up on Ricardo Flores Magon and the many intellectual architects of today’s radical popular movements in Mexico: http://illvox.org/2007/06/24/the-origins-of-contemporary-chicanao-anarchism “

-A.W.