The Zapatista's Other Campaign Breaking Down Borders: Live Cross-Border Press Conference with Mexico
Members of Movement for Justice in El Barrio were forced to leave Mexico by an unjust social, economic and political system. After being displaced from our home countries, landlords, multi-national corporations and city officials are trying to displace us from our homes in El Barrio. We are fighting back locally and we have also joined the Zapatista-initiated Other Campaign, a national Mexican movement to make change from below and to the left. The Campaign was originally proposed by the Zapatistas in the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle. (For full text visit http://enlacezapatista.ezln.org.mx/especiales/2)
In this workshop, we will share the ways Movement for Justice in El Barrio has used video and media to overcome obstacles to international organizing by engaging in international dialogue across borders with fellow members of the Other Campaign. In addition, through this workshop we seek to seize this rare opportunity of a gathering of independent journalists and grassroots media to facilitate a live cross border press conference with members of The Peoples Front in Defense of the Land in San Salvador Atenco.
We will present two video messages and short documentary:
Video #1: “From Across the Border: Our Struggle Against Global Displacement”
This video describes who we are and how we struggle. Movement for Justice in El Barrio sent a delegation down to Chiapas, Mexico to participate in the World Wide Festival of Dignified Rage called by the Zapatistas. With thousands of people present, we shared our dignified and rebellious words through our new video message. It includes a special message to the Zapatistas on their 25th anniversary and a message to the people of Atenco.
Video #2: “Breaking the Siege”
A Documentary by Canal 6 de Julio and Promedios: “This video analyzes the events in San Salvador Atenco during the first days of May, 2006 and denounces the violation of the civilian population’s human rights by state and federal police forces. The documentary deconstructs the mass media’s operating methods, which were responsible for creating a climate of fear and an information blockade on the events in San Salvador Atenco, in the midst of an especially delicate situation: the 2006 process of presidential succession in Mexico.” For the full documentary visit http://www.salonchingon.com/cinema/otra_canal6atenco.php
Video #3: “Message from San Salvador Atenco”
We will present a message from the people of Atenco who are also part of the Other Campaign. The community in Atenco has a great history of struggle. In 2002, they put a halt to the government’s project to take away their land in order to build an airport. On the 3rd and 4th of May of 2006, the government of Mexico savagely attacked the population of Atenco. Two youth were killed, 30 women were raped, and they detained more than 200 people. There are still 12 political prisoners in jail with sentences of up to 112 years. For more information visit: www.atencolibertadyjusticia.com.
Cross Border Press Conference: Finally, we will facilitate a live feed press conference with members of the People’s Front in Defense of the Land in order for journalist to learn about their campaign to free their political prisoners and their struggle for their land.
Who we are:
Movement for Justice in El Barrio is an immigrant-led social justice organization dedicated to organizing community members in El Barrio (East Harlem, NYC) to lead the way to social justice. Founded in December 2004 to organize against a voracious trend towards gentrification that is devouring low-income housing and displacing immigrant families from their homes, Movement for Justice in El Barrio is currently expanding to take on an additional issue identified by the community in El Barrio and was named the “Best Power to the People Movement in NYC” by the Village Voice.
Presenters: Movement for Justice in El Barrio
In this workshop, we will share the ways Movement for Justice in El Barrio has used video and media to overcome obstacles to international organizing by engaging in international dialogue across borders with fellow members of the Zapatista-initiated Other Campaign, a national Mexican movement to make change from below and to the left. In addition, through this workshop we seek to seize this rare opportunity of a gathering of independent journalists and grassroots media to facilitate a live cross border press conference with members of The Peoples Front in Defense of the Land in San Salvador Atenco.
**We request that people who attend this session make a commitment to covering the story of what is happening in Atenco through various independent journalism channels, viral media and social networking sites.**
Please email "jenny@alliedmediaconference.org" with the subject line "RSVP" and include your name and the name of this session in the body of the email, before Friday June 19th.
