A MERICAS B Y P ETER W INN Topic #2 Las Zapatistas

Z APATA L IVES ! El Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional, EZLN, ( Zapatista Army of National Liberation), was formed in reaction to the unkept promises of the Mexican Revolution, specifically the actions of President Salinas.

D ECLARATION OF W AR ! On New Years Day in 1994, the Zapatistas, an armed band of peasants from Chiapas, issued their First Declaration from the Lacandón Jungle and their Revolutionary Laws which amounted to a declaration of war against the government of Mexico. The signing of NAFTA and the unending encroachment of big business, both from the United States and Mexico, was the final betrayal of Mexico’s indigenous that the EZLN could bear.

¡Y A B ASTA ! “We have nothing, absolutely nothing, not even a decent roof over our heads; no land, no work, no health care, no food, no education; without the right to freely and democratically elect our authorities; without independence from foreigners, without peace or justice for ourselves and our children” (Winn, 575) “ Its first “Declaration for the Lacandón Jungle” – beginning with its ringing opening: “Today we Say ENOUGH!” – was a clarion call to an increasingly discontented Mexico” (ibid.)

P ARA TODOS TODO, P ARA NOSOTROS NADA T HE IDEOLOGY OF THE Z APATISTAS Opposes neo-liberal globalization (“free” trade). The Labor Law demands “that foreign companies pay Mexican workers what they pay their foreign workers.” (Winn, 575) The Urban Reform Law limits “urban rents to 10 percent of the household head’s income” (ibid.) and abolished “rent after fifteen years of residence…”(ibid). A call to real and direct democracy. Equality and respect for women.

W OMEN ’ S R EVOLUTIONARY L AW Women, regardless of their race, creed, color, or political affiliation, have the right to participate in the revolutionary struggle or in any way that their desire and capacity determine. Women have the right to work and receive a fair salary. Women have the right to decide the number of children they have and care for. Women have the right to participate in the matters of the community and have charge if they are free and democratically elected. Women and their children have the right to Primary Attention in their health and nutrition. Women have the right to education. Women have the right to choose their partner and are not obliged to enter into marriage. Women have the right to be free of violence from both relatives and strangers. (

T HE N EW R EVOLUTION – N ON - VIOLENT NATIONALISM “On January 1, 1996, two years after its armed seizure of San Cristóbal de las Casas, the Zapatistas embraced the creation of the FZLN, a “civil and non-violent organization, independent and democratic, Mexican and national.” It was not to be a political party, but rather a “political force whose members would not hold or aspire to take power,” but rather to struggle for “democracy, liberty, and justice in Mexico.””(Winn, 577).

Z APATISTA, D ON ’ T G IVE U P B Y A NTI - FLAG And yup I think that's got untied Big day, big day planned out that night Impoverished Mayan armies fight Against the fearless capitalist might Still they fight, For their rights, Organize!!! Oh-Oh-Oh-Oh Revolution Revolt!!! Oh-Oh-Oh-Oh Revolution Revolt!!! Lightning, lightning ferments the rain Conquistador invades their plain They fucked the rich, took back their land United as one now they stand On their land, Untied hands, Marco's plan!!! Oh-Oh-Oh Revolution Revolt!!! Oh-Oh-Oh Revolution Revolt!!! Marginalized groups as one Cannot be stopped or beaten When the rich try to keep you down The rich took everything Some months are on display To keep the message down They will be brought down!!! Oh-Oh-Oh Zapatistas!!! Oh-Oh-Oh Zapatistas!!! Victory, From Unity, Victory!!!