Compañeras and sisters: Welcome to these Zapatista lands.

January 11, 2020 5:04 PM

In December 2019 more than 3,000 women from all over the world "came together in an autonomous Zapatista enclave in the southern Mexico state of Chiapas over the weekend to unite against the patriarchy, violence and capitalism."
From Jezebel: "The Second International Meeting of Women Who Fight is the Raddest Meeting in the World"
Read the translated opening words from the Zapatista women, given by Comondanta Amada, here.
posted by primalux (4 comments total)

Thanks for posting this. Both of these articles are painfully short, but I loved her speech. She mentioned that conditions were worse since their last meeting, and seemed to imply that their efforts were falling short. Attacking their targets is going to result in push-back (I assume); perhaps (temporarily) degrading conditions as a result.
posted by Brocktoon at 5:58 PM on January 11, 2020

Also, the fact that security for the meeting were armed only with bows and arrows is very interesting. I wonder if that was a decision designed to directly affect the overall tone of the meeting.
posted by Brocktoon at 7:10 PM on January 11, 2020

On a visit to San Cristobal de las Casas, some time in the mid 90s, I turned a corner to come face to face with Subcomandante Marcos, leader and spokesperson for the Zapatista Army of National Liberation - and retinue. Certainly not a part of the regular tourist itinerary.

All these years later, I am both surprised and glad that both the movement and Marcos still going. They seem to follow an interesting hybrid of ideas from Mayan culture mixed in with elements of anarchism, Marxism, eco-activism and libertarian socialism. See also "Why the Zapatistas are stronger than ever" FPP from 2014.
posted by rongorongo at 1:58 AM on January 12, 2020

Well, hell yeah, this is a very healing speech.
posted by Oyéah at 10:37 AM on January 12, 2020