04/15/2015
Carta Abierta : Ataque en la Marcha por Zapata 2015 –English version below
El dia domingo 12 de Abril 2015 bajo la estatua del General Emiliano Zapata se escribio un pagina de infamia en la historia del movimiento en los Angeles,
varias personas, entre ellas, Lucas, Xicoatl un miembro de un grupo de rock cuyo nombre en si mismo es revelador se llaman “ la Familia Grifa”, Felicia Montes fundadora del grupo Mujeres de Maiz, Nicole Rojas al parecer una danzante de otro grupo, Joel Garcia director de proyectos especiales en Self Help Graphics, miembros de Brown Berets del este de los Angeles y otras personas agredieron a Pastel Mireles ademas de golpear y tirar al piso a una compañera de la danza Cuahutemoc de nombre Victoria, todo esto fue realizado de la forma mas mafiosa que se pueda pensar, como si fueran parte de una clika, en bola con unas tijeras atacaron a Pastel, en momentos en que habiamos pocas personas alli preparando el festival a Emiliano Zapata, bajo los siguientes argumentos, de que Pastel ha molestado niños o niñas, de que ha habido asambleas de ancianos y que ellos, los ancianos han tomado estas decisones al respecto, de que ellos (Felicia, Xicoatl, Lucas, Joel Garcia, Nicole, los Boinas y las otras jovenes ) representan a la comunidad y de que estan defendiendo los espacios sagrados, ademas de decir que ellos son Zapatistas.
Cualquiera que ha cometido un crimen de la naturaleza que ellos dicen debe de ser castigado totalmente, nosotros seriamos los primeros en pedirlo.. pero se le debe de comprobar primero o no?
Hay muchas interrogantes pero las que mas resaltan son las siguientes, estas personas que acusan a Pastel tiene pruebas? cuando las pedimos no mostraron ninguna, nada absolutamente nada. No hay documento de alguna corte, un documento oficial.. nada.. y hasta se hacen las ofendidas..
dijeron que habia testimonios.... preguntamos de quien? y dicen que no quieren que se sepa quienes fueron afectados o afectadas ...o sea que? tienen o no tienen testimonios? Hay alguna madre o familiar de las supuestas victimas que de fe del reclamo?
Si hay testimonios.. pues despues de esta accion cobarde y artera tendran que presentarse alguien de los afectad@s, de lo contrario solo se demuestra que ha sido un rumor y que el dia de hoy alguien jalo el hilo y mando a su lacayos a ajecutar un golpe en contra de la marcha mas combativa de los Angeles, no contra Mireles por que no la organiza el, es mas Mireles ni siquiera es la cabeza de la danza en Los Angeles, la cabeza es la Sra Judith, esta vez la marcha la organizamos el Frente Unido de los pueblos Americanos y la Coordinadora Independencia entre otros grupos, cabe decir aqui que los que hoy llegaron de golpeadores al mejor estilo de los porros o los priistas jamas se tomaron la preocupacion de ir a ninguna de las reuniones de organizacion de la marcha para exponer nada de lo que claman en su comunicado, que de forma cobarde solo lo circularon por correo electronico y en facebooks.. porque? tal vez porque la consigna que estos provocadores traian era reventar el homenaje al general Emiliano Zapata. de hecho no conformes con lo realizado en el parque Mexico todavia fueron a donde comenzo la marcha y repartieron su propaganda diciendole a la gente que llegaba que no participara en la marcha, mas claro la queremos?
Los ancianos -elders y espacios sagrados
Lo del consejo de ancianos, bueno y como cuales?, que consejo de ancianos seran? donde esta la decision que este " consejo" de ancianos tomo? quien la tiene? o igual les creemos a los jovenes aprendices de ganster que hoy trataron de sabotear el homenaje a Zapata de que ellos " representan" a los ancianos? lo cierto que no llego ninguna representacion de ancianos...
Dicen ademas representar a la comunidad pero resulta que la comunidad ahora son Felicia Montes, Joel Garcia, Xicoatl, Lucas, Nicole Rojas, Xicoatl y sus amigos (el resto de los firmantes de su carta no llegaron) y que Felicia que dice defender a las mujeres permitio que una mujer fuera tirada y golpeada causandose heridas en el rostro por sus amigos, mientras la hija de Victoria; una jovencita de 16 años veia llorando y asustada como su madre era agredida con la complicidad de alguien que pretende ser un modelo a seguir en la lucha por los derechos de las mujeres, ( es mas ellos tienen un video de su "revolucionaria accion" que lo muestren sin ediciones, completo.
Dicen "defender" los espacios sagrados? y quien decide que espacio es sagrado? en que momento del viaje "espiritual" en que estos mafufos iluminados se meten se consagra como espacio sagrado el parque Mexico? O cualquier otro lugar? para muchos de nosotros es simbolico pero sagrado pues no tenemos el valor moral como para decidir eso,..
pero tal parece que para estos delincuentes del movimiento si es sagrado y entonces deciden atacar con unas tijeras a una persona que no pueden probar que es culpable, que ademas es una persona de edad avanzada tal vez mas de 65 años enfrente de su esposa, bueno.. es asi atacando a un persona mayor como se respetan los espacios sagrados?
Zapatismo
Por ultimo dicen que son Zapatistas, la pregunta es.. no sera que son zapatistas al estilo de Jesus Guajardo o de Pascual Orozco? porque aqui vendria la interrogante mas grande.. de quien es la mano que mece la cuna?
Lejos de sentir verguenza por lo realizado estan circulando fotos de la persona afectada para que todos lo vean, y hay que verlo bien, contra esta persona de esta edad estos "valientes" zapatistas decidieron realizar una accion digna de los mafiosos del poder, enfrente de la esposa de Pastel. (doña Judith) que trataba de intervenir pero ella tambien es una señora mayor a la cual nosotros le tenemos un profundo respeto como sabemos se lo ha ganado a pulso ya que es ella la que lo esta siempre al frente de las marchas y las luchas comunitarias o alguien lo puede negar? A pesar de que ella les pedia que pararan no lo hicieron, siguieron agrediendo, incluso en algun momento la Sra Judith le pregunto a Felicia porque si decian eso nunca habia hablado con ella y la respuesta de Felicia era que ell@s habian tenido sus “platicas”, sus reuniones, es decir, la esposa del acusado no ha sido contactada por las mujeres que se supone son las encargadas de defender a las mujeres?
No sera que cuando realizaron estas acusaciones -segun eso - hace mas de 10 o 20 años (porque ni siquiera en eso son precisos) la danza Cuahutemoc contaba con cientos de miembros y que tal vez a los poderosos les parecio conveniente golpearlos?
De que son Zapatistas…que acaso estas personas que golpearon a una persona mayor y a una mujer no saben que los verdaderos Zapatistas de hoy hacen una asamblea verdaderamente comunitaria con toda la comunidad y alli bajo usos y costumbres se juzga al infractor y se decide el castigo, PERO PARA ESO,, OTRA VEZ... PARA ESO COMPAS, SE TIENE QUE PROBAR LA ACUSACION, y las mujeres Zapatistas verdaderas dan la cara para señalar a quienes les han dañado.. y mas aun cuando se trata de alguien que pertence a alguna de sus organizaciones y no, no se "manda" un grupito de golpeadores que se autoerigen como los ejecutores de la justicia "divina" y sagrada.
Haste este momento no ha habido un solo foro comunitario donde se discuta esta situacion. En el verdadero movimiento revolucionario se parte de ciencia, de la corroboracion de los hechos, de materialismo, de la comprobacion. Estos tipos nos quieren dar paja usindo el argumento de lo “espiritual” cuando su accion esta catalogada terrenalmente como agression con premeditacion, alevosia y ventaja, ahora si como dicen por ahi, que los compren quienes no los conocen.
Con esta accion que hoy estos pandilleros -porque no se portaron de otra forma, realizaron demuestran que el estado sigue trabajando en tratar de quebrar nuestro proceso de lucha en los territorios ocupados, o como dicen por ahi o son muy bobos o son muy vivos o son bobos porque se los comen facilmente o son muy vivos porque cumplen con las tareas asignadas, quien dio la orden?
Porque tuvimos que llamar la Policia ….
Todavia estos "revolucionarios" de pacotilla nos cuestionaron que porque llamamos a la policia, o sea que vienen, nos madrean y luegon nos cuestionan que utilicemos la legalidad burguesa para la cual tal vez alguien de ellos trabaja?
y a ellos quien les pago para provocar el enfrentamiento? que pretendian, que nosotros tambien los atacaramos para tener excusas y que terminaramos en el carcel? dijeron que no era contra la marcha pero resulta que fue en el dia y la hora de la marcha, que fue en contra de un hombre y una mujer danzantes y que casi logran que por esa accion la policia cancelara el permiso, tuvimos que hablar con la policia enfatizando que teniamos 20 años haciendo la marcha sin problemas para que no la cancelaran y todavia de forma cobarde Xicoatl negaba frente a la policia que el habia atacado a Pastel “ no yo no fui, yo no fui” decia .. cuando el pelo cortado de esta persona estaba por sobre todo su cuerpo, asi que el poli cia le dijo, aver mi chavo, echate pa aca y pse lo llevaron. Los agredidos deben de formular cargos contra los agresores y deben de ir a la carcel, si trabajan ellos para el estado burgues ,... pues vamos a usar su propia legalidad burguesa contra ellos, esa es nuestra opinion. Desafortunadamente si lograron hacer que algunos vendedores y gentes de la comunidad que estos provocadores dice representar se fueran temerosos de la accion violenta de los agresores.
Ahora, por que estas personas que corrompen la consigna Zapatista quieren quebrar la unica marcha totalmente combativa de los Angeles? alguien vio a estos super revolucionarios organizando por Ayotzinapa? cuantos de ellos estan apoyando ahorita a San Quintin? cuando los vemos gritando frente al consulado libertad por los presos politicos? cuantos de ellos estan en la frontera combatiendo a la migra? cuantos circulos de danzas combativos, de lucha callejera tienen? donde estan?.
Un dato curioso compas que leen este largo documento, resulta que la marcha empieza en Boyle Heights este año, en la plaza del Mariachi, por coincidencia es alli donde Xicoatl el agresor de Pastel realiza su Mexica new year que se ha convertido en un negocio mas que en evento politico cultural.. adonde va el dinero recaudado? Es para una de las causas populares de nuestro pueblo o termina en el bolsillo de quien? Otro dato, - segun algunos testimonios, es en esta parte que Niccole Rojas- otra de las agresoras tiene al parecer su circulo de danza, asimismo es en esta parte donde al parecer estan tambien las organizaciones de Joel Garcia y de Felicia Montes, bueno solo algunos datos para pensar.
La experiencia reciente en Ayotzinapa nos obliga a reflexionar sobre quien infiltro a la Normal Isidro Burgos?, que no fueron policias disfrados de anarquistas? Sera que aqui la tactica es parecida y usan a algunos de los nuestros para tratar de golpear y dividir, infiltran nuestras organizaciones y se aprovechan de la poca claridad politica de algunos incautos.?
Xicoatl, a participado varias veces en la marcha y a tocado en el festival sabiendo que Pastel ha estado alli y de repente le parece valida su accion? Asi nomas 3 dias antes deciden que hay que acabar a Pastel?
Si alguien es culpable que se castigue, que se le siga su proceso y que termine en la carcel, pero que no se excusen en el dolor de las personas para hacer acciones gansteriles. Es criminal la forma en que estos nefastos se escudan bajo una palabreria que los convierte en intocables NO COMPAS, LA REVOLUCION NO PASA POR EL ESOTERISMO, NI LA FILOSOFIA IDEALISTA, NOSOTROS CREEMOS PRIMERO EN COMPROBACION DE LOS HECHOS ANTES QUE DE LA SUPUESTA EXISTENCIA DE UN LUGAR SAGRADO QUE ALGUNOS MAñOSAMENTE SE INVENTAN. SOMOS MATERIALISTAS DIALECTICOS, esos cuentos espirituales son iguales a los que los invasores europeos nos trajeron, o sea tenemos que creerles por que ellos dicen, asi, no pidas pruebas porque es una trasgresion espiritual… solo falta que nos digan que si no les creemos tambien nos van a a rapar, pruebas..... sin ellas no hay nada.. seriamos muy estupidos si nos dejamos llevar por rumores solamente. Y si las hay pues justicia de volada.
Nadie puede so pretexto de realizar una accion justiciera boycotear un evento de organizaciones. Estos espiritualistas sagrados se consagran como sherifes del movimiento y van y linchan a quienes ellos dice son culpables, asi nomas, como si estuvieramos en el viejo oeste.
Zapatistas son todos aquellos que combaten al poder de los opresores y no quienes golpean a ancianos y mujeres, esos son contra revolucionarios, provocadores, contrainsurgentes, infiltrados, policias, traidores pero jamas Zapatistas.
Esto debe de denuciarse de forma amplia, que se conozca quienes realizaron un ataque con tijeras a una persona de edad avanzada, que golpearon a una compañera y que trataron de boycotear la Marcha en honor al General Emiliano Zapata.
Gravisimo tambien fue que la demostracion de la “Buena” educacion que reciben las nuevas generaciones, trajeron con ellos algunas jovencitas que se dedicaron a insultarnos, de pendejos no nos bajaban… por favor; quienes piensen enviar a sus hijas a estos “ circulos” de estos compas primero piensen si estos violentos les van a enseñar algo positivo.
Dato chusco.. Alguien nos mando un mensaje que Joel Garcia otro de los agresores, dice haber sido visitado por un pajarito el la mañana y que representaba a un elder y que le dijo que lo que hicieron esta bien, sale.. con eso de que estan de moda los pajaritos que vienen y platican con los iluminados solo faltaria que diga que vino Quetzalcoatl y le dio un abrazo y un beso en la frente.. y que le pidio que le construya un templo..
Ahora bien, En su documento donde amenazaron con hacer lo que hicieron estan muchas personas y nombres de organizaciones, les pregunto, ustedes estan de acuerdo que atacaran contijeras, que golpearan a las mujeres?, y a todos preguntamos, estan de acuerdo que estas personas sean la policia del movimiento? Debemos nosotros encargarles la autoridad para que realizen estos actos “justicieros” sin que debamos de pedir pruebas? Quien de nosotros o ustedes es el proximo?.
Nosotros como Comite Prodemocracia en Mexico con mas de 20 años siendo parte de la Marcha del General Emiliano Zapata y con una trayectoria politica congruente donde han habido errores y aciertos exigimos el esclarecimiento de estas acusaciones en contra de Pastel Mireles y que se haga justicia si la persona es culpable; al igual que exigimos el castigo politico y criminal contra aquellos que actuan como si fueran jueces y ejecutores policiacos y que ademas se convierten en iluminados que deciden que espacios son sagrados en Los Angeles y que cuentan con circulos de ancianos que solo ellos conocen, que platican con los pajaritos y que pa acabarla de joder se sienten Zapatistas y tratan de destruir (aunque digan que no) precisamente el homenaje al General Emiliano Zapata.
Nosotros damos fe de lo que aqui contamos por que estuvimos alli y exigimos que entreguen el video que tomaron de sus acciones, alli esta el mejor testimonio de lo sucedido. Si su acto fue justiciero que lo entreguen. SIN EDICIONES
Por Cierto, un gran reconocimiento a quienes si acudieron a pesar de todo a la Marcha por el General Zapata, organizaciones, Familiares, comunidad en general y grupos culturales, poetas y cantores, gracias.
Xochisoneros, Son Real, Chiles Verdes, Aztlan Underground, Comandante, Zapoteca Roots, Alejandro Campos y su grupo, Conga poet, Palabras, Las poetas: Dora Magaña, Zipaktli Xlahun, Antonieta Villamil, Oxy Lebran y Jose Garcia, Adalila y su canto revolucionario, Zero del Vuh, Dazer, Difunto Acustico,
Organizations & Speakers: Carla Castañeda Mother of Cynthia Castañeda (16 yr old girl disappeared from Chihuahua). Felipe from San Quintin (Representative of Agricultural workers-Baja Calif), FSLN (National Liberation Front of Nicaragua), FMLN(National Liberation Farabundo Marti), Comite Hondureño, Coordinadora Independencia y sus organizaciones, Immigrantes Unidos en Resistencia, Yo soy 132, 5oy Mexico, Alerta Cali, Alianza Puertoriqueña, ANSWER, Chicano Moratoria, Ocuppy Fights Foreclosures, Iranian Progressive Alliance, Nancy Cisneros, Rapid Response Network- Riverside, Harmony Keepers, Colectivos de KPFK – Suplemento Comunitario, Voces de Libertad e Insurgencia Femenina, Informativo Pacifica.
ZAPATA VIVE, LA LUCHA SIGUE!!!!
Entonces, estos provocadores son Zapatistas.. o Carrancistas?
Comite Prodemocracia en Mexico
Los Angeles CA Abril 13 del 2015
Pedimos que tod@s las organizaciones nos sumemos al debate par encontrar la verdad, que formulen su posicionamiento o que se sumen a este documento, GRACIAS
ENGLISH VERSION
On Sunday April 12, 2015 under the statue of General Emiliano Zapata a disgraceful act occurred within the history of the movement in Los Angeles. Several people, including Xicohatl ( a member of a rock band called "La Familia Grifa ", Felicia Montes (one of the founding members of Mujeres de Maiz, Nicole Rojas (apparently a dancer from another group), Joel Garcia ( Director of special projects at Self Help Graphics), Lucas, members of Brown Berets East Los Angeles and others attacked Pastel Mireles the morning of the Zapata March in Parque Mexico in Lincoln Heights. An elder danzante Victoria was also hit, scratched and thrown to the floor, this was all done in the most mafia way you can think of, as if they were part of a clique. In a group surrounding Pastel Miereles , he was eventually pushed and attacked with scissors at a time when few people were at the park preparing for the annual Emiliano Zapata March/festival. The accusations were based on the following grounds; that Pastel Mireles had molested young kids (boys or girls we do not know) and they were complying with the decisions taken at an elder assembly. They, Xihcoatl, Felicia Montes, Nicole Rojas, Lucas, Brown Berets East Los Angeles, Joel Garcia and others claim they represent the community and are defending the sacred spaces of Los Angeles , plus they say they are Zapatistas.
Anyone who has committed a crime of this nature (child molestation) must be punished fully, we agree and would be the first to demand punishment…. but first we need some kind of proof right?
There are many unanswered questions but the one that stands out is..if those who are accusing Pastel have some kind of evidence to support the accusations, ( police report, court documents, testimonial from family, Doctor reports, timeline of some sort when this occurred) where is it? To date we have seen absolutely nothing and when we do ask offense is taken that we would even inquire about evidence?? We must ask for evidence anytime anyone is demanding a boycott of something or someone. Who are selected groups to decide who knows this information and who doesn't? In the movement it is absolutely essential to get to the roots of the problem, to open up all proofs. Infiltration issues are always a possibility as history proves time and time again. It’s imperative that people do not take offense when this question is posed. Questioning doesn’t mean we are insinuating nothing happened nor does it mean that we are concluding that it did. The only thing that is stated is that these “supposed victims” do not want to reveal themselves. We wonder where the mothers of these children are if they were minors, why anyone hasn’t come forward. Not even one family member & if this has occurred in a danza group , young children are almost always brought into danza by family member? If the “alleged victims” do not want to talk and denounce these tragic violations for future generations, how can our communities solemnly heal as to not tragically divide organizations, activists and the community at large ( As we already got a taste of at the March)
So as you can see those of you who take the time to read this open letter of reproach there are a lot of unanswered questions which need to be addressed.
After this cowardly and underhanded act took place it is now more critical than ever to present some kind of evidence, otherwise these allegations turn themselves into rumors and now there has been a direct action taken against one of the most historic revolutionary marches in Los Angeles, the March for Emiliano Zapata. Pastel Mireles does not organize the Zapata March, even more Mireles is not the head of Danza Cuauhtémoc in Los Angeles. The march was organized by F U P A (United Front of People from the Americas) and the Coordinadora Independencia along with many other groups.
What remains very clear is these cowardly actions were taken without any of these people attending any previous planning meetings so organizations could have the chance for a dialogue or some kind of communication in relation to the accusations and Pastels participation in the march. Not even phone calls were made to any of the organizers to set up a meeting. A letter was circulated a few days before the march via email and Facebook when the planning for the march has been in progress for over three months. So during the attack they claimed they didn’t have anything against the Zapata March yet at Mariachi Plaza these same people arrived and were passing out a letter denouncing Pastel to those attending the March and telling people not to participate. Some regulars who attend the annual march informed us at a later time that there was misperceptions and confusion regarding what was going on.
The claims that these actions were ordered at a previous elders gathering …
In regards to the elders and their theoretical advice to take this kind of action against Pastel: Who are the elders, when was this assembly or decision taken? Is it in written form, oral? Are these people who attacked the danzante Victoria and cut off Pastels hair representatives of the elders? They clearly stated that the elders had their gatherings and it was decided to take this kind of action. Yet not one elder was accompanied by any of them at the Park in the morning or at Mariachi Plaza.
We ask, where is their honor and dignity as they just showed up under the Zapata statue and tried to sabotage our honorable tribute march for Emiliano Zapata in East Los Angeles. They said they were representing the community as well, so now our whole community is Felicia Montes, Joel Garcia, Xicoatl, Lucas, Nicole Rojas, and their friends and everyone else who put their name on that letter. Felicia was present when the woman danzante Victoria was pushed to the ground and has a large scratch on her face as well ( Victoria’s 16 year old daughter, Miztla was crying as she witnessed this) and yet Felicia was there and she talks about sacred spaces and defending women? Was that not a sacred space for the mujeres who were putting flowers around the area where the Zapata statue was? Another woman danzante, Milagros, who has been dancing since she was 16 years old and is now 34, who was putting flowers around the statue, was accused by Felicia Montes of having sexual relations with Pastel. Milagros is an outstanding danzante who has a children’s circle and is well respected in all circles. Is this what sisterhood looks like?
There is complete footage of everything (they filmed it all) and if shown it needs to be done without any edits.
Sacred Spaces
They talk about defending sacred spaces? Who decides what spaces are sacred and under what conditions? At what moment in their spiritual journey did these enlightened ones go to Parque Mexico and make it sacred? For many of us Parque Mexico is symbolic but sacred, well we don’t have the moral value or authority to call it sacred do we? But it seems that for these “social justice police officers of the movement” that space is so sacred they decided to attack and cut off Pastel Mierles hair, a man who is well lover 65 , lay into and push an older danzante woman yet they have not proven Pastels guilt in any way. So is this how sacred spaces are protected?
Finally they claim to be Zapatistas…maybe the Jesus Guajardo or Pascual Orozco type of Zapatistas? Or an even bigger question; who is the hand that rocks the cradle? Who decided on these actions? Everyone who signed that letter?
Far from feeling any infamy from what took place, there are actual pictures and comments circulating of the affected person for all to see and to be seen, so look closely at the age of this man and you will see the "brave Zapatistas” who decided to do a “dignified” mafia style action and still declare there is no need for more evidence.
Standing right there near the statue was Dona Judith (Mrs. Judith) who tried to intervene and she is also an elder woman and well known by countless organizations who have a deep respect for her which she has indisputably earned by leading thousands of marches in our community (no one can deny her presence at so many events, protests and marches throughout the past 20 years.) Although she asked them to stop badgering Pastel (they did not stop), and kept attacking, and at some time Judith told Felicia Montes, why was she or her danza group never called or contacted ever and the only response she got from Felicia was that they had already had “talks” and meetings of their own about this issue.
So the wife of the accused has never been contacted by those who claim to defend women, sacred spaces and promote dialogues for the betterment of women and community?
Could it be that when these accusations were made well over 15 years ago (they do not give precision of time) when Danza Cuauhtémoc had hundreds of members and perhaps the government saw this as a convenient time to disrupt and destroy the only politicized danza group of that time? We have many unanswered questions still.
If the proof is out there, we absolutely demand justice for the guilty as it should be and our hearts go out to any victim of these kinds of violations and crimes. We are against impunity in all forms. However is this the way to demand justice? We have a social responsibility in the movement to think through every action we take at any event or any public gathering.
But until then we cannot allow the movement to be shattered and names dragged through the mud based on unverified evidence.
These people who assaulted an elderly person and a woman do not understand that the true Zapatistas today hold community assemblies with all of the community members present and adhere to their laws and regulations accordingly and judge the offender and decide on a punishment. BUT FOR THAT, AGAIN COMPAS, ONE MUST PROVE THE CHARGES AND ACCUSATIONS, true Zapatista women show their faces and point out those who have harmed them and even more when it comes to someone who belongs to one of their own organizations and not send a small group of thugs who assign themselves as the executors of the "divine and sacred" justice. To date, there has not been a single community forum where this situation has been discussed with all members and organizations invited.
This only shows that the state is still working on trying to break our course of action within the struggle and within the confines of these occupied territories, or maybe gullible activists and members of the community believe everything they hear without critically thinking things through and not being afraid to ask the right questions. We would like to know who gave the ultimate order to take such actions. Could it be that Xicoatl feels threatened because he is in charge on the Mexica New Year that by “coincidence” is held at la plaza del Mariachi same place where the marcha started this year.. and by the way Mexica New Year has become more a business than a cultural political event, we ask Xicoatl, is the money raised at this event sent to support any movement or is it for his pocket?? Is it a coincidence that Nicole Rojas- another aggressor of Pastel- has her group of danzantes at the SAME plaza del mariachi according to some people who know her.
During the aggression, seen how dangerous the situation went these tactless “revolutionaries" questioned why the police were called. They surrounded and attacked two people while instigating confrontations and now want to pose the question as to why the legal bourgeois were called? They said their actions were not against the March yet they arrived the morning of the march and the police almost canceled the whole event threatening to take away the permit. We had to talk to the police and emphasize that for the last 20 years we have never had any problems with anyone at this march and convince them to let the event go on. Xicoatl at that time was cowardly denying any kind of attack in front of the police yet he was full of Pastels hair. The police ended up taking him away with evidence they found.
Unfortunately they managed- through their violent attack- to make some vendors leave the march. Now because of these people, true Zapatismo was tainted as they wanted to disrupt and damage the only militant march for Zapata in California. Who is behind all of this? Did anyone see these super revolutionaries organizing for the 43 university students of Ayotzinapa? How many of them are helping to organize something for agricultural workers of San Quintin? When do we see any of them screaming for justice in front of the Mexican Consulate to free political prisoners? How many of them are at the border fighting La Migra? How many danza circles do they have that take to the streets and demand justice at almost every single March that exists in Los Angeles? We ask where are they?
The recent experience in Ayotzinapa forces us to reflect about who infiltrated the students of the Normal (Teachers College) . Was it not the police posing as anarchists? The Yankee imperialists are masters in destroying the movement, could it be them behind it? Are they using a few of our own community members to try and hurt or divide our organizations and the years of work and sacrifice it has taken so many of us not only organizing the Zapata march but our work extends internationally as we constantly fight for political prisoners, the disappeared women of Chihuahua, the countless repression and massacres that seem endless and so much more?.
Interesting enough Xicoatl, has participated many times in the Zapata march and has actually played on stage knowing Pastel was there and yet all of a sudden he feels the need to now take action? As well his family have also been vendors at the march, not once but many times.
If someone is guilty then they need to face punishment, with due process and possible jail time, but attacking an elder in front of his wife and hurting a defenseless woman as they did, speaks more to a mafia style vendetta victimizing the “supposed victims” for some unknown motive that’s still unclear. So the provocateurs are deciding to take action on behalf of the “victims” who still haven’t come forward creating yet another cycle of victimization through violence and assault. Are they trying to make a name for themselves on behalf of the alleged “victims”?
Without any concrete evidence, this leaves us with nothing to go on. We would be very irresponsible, thoughtless and rash to just take action from rumors.
1. Calling for a boycott of a community event from organizations without ever calling for a community forum and arriving on such a special day for those of us who really know the spirit of Zapata is politically untrustworthy and substandard. How is it that those who say they are so spiritual are now sheriffs of the movement and claim to represent so many? Are we in the Old West?
2. Z apatistas are those who fight the power of the oppressors and not those who show aggression on older people and women and especially not those who take violent action on such a symbolic day for the movement. These are anti revolutionaries, provocateurs, counterinsurgents but never Zapatistas.
3. We had to denounce these actions publicly and will continue to do so with this letter and clearly name those present because it is essential to be transparent with names and facts during these times of informing the whole community. By any means this is not gossip but truth of the occurrences from that day.
4. Sadly the East LA Brown Berets (who always participate in our march) and also were accompanied by some of the youth, who were insulting those who were trying to ask the provokers to leave. Imagine training our youth to show up and support such an action without any evidence or critical thinking. Is that what the movement calls us to do with our youth?
• NOW WE ASK YOU VIA THIS DOCUMENT IF YOU KNEW THIS KIND OF ASSAULT WAS GOING TO TAKE PLACE?
• IS THIS WHAT YOUR ORGANIZATION STANDS FOR?
• ARE YOU ALLOWING THESE ACTIONS BY THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN MENTIONED TO BE THE WAY WE RESOLVE JUSTICE AMONGST ONE ANOTHER ?
We, Comite Prodemocracia en Mexico with 20 years’ experience of organizing the March for Emiliano Zapata, and with a concrete political course where we have experienced triumphs and failures. At this point we need complete clarification and evidence of the accusations. Those who attacked Pastel Mierles and attacked Victoria also need to answer to community members. The video is the best testament to everything that took place that morning, as they were recording everything and it should be seen in its entirety. If their actions were so justified why has this video not been circulated? We have nothing to hide and are very proud of our work and will continue to be present fighting for human rights, immigrant campesina/o rights, disappeared women and political prisoners here and south of the border.
With great admiration for all those who attended the 21st annual Zapata March;
We want to thank our family, friends, camaradas ,vendors and artist who showed up to honor the true spirit of Emiliano Zapata. Artists. Xochisoneros, Son Real, Chiles Verdes, Aztlan Underground, Comandante, Zapoteca Roots, Alejandro Campos y su grupo, Conga poet, Palabras, Las poetas: Dora Magaña, Zipaktli Xlahun, Antonieta Villamil, Oxy Lebran y Jose Garcia, Adalila y su canto revolucionario, Zero del Vuh, Dazer, Difunto Acustico,
Organizations & Speakers: Carla Castañeda Mother of Cynthia Castañeda (16 yr old girl disappeared from Chihuahua). Felipe from San Quintin (Representative of Agricultural workers-Baja Calif), FSLN (National Liberation Front of Nicaragua), FMLN(National Liberation Farabundo Marti), Comite Hondureño, Coordinadora Independencia y sus organizaciones, Immigrantes Unidos en Resistencia, Yo soy 132, 5oy Mexico, Alerta Cali, Alianza Puertoriqueña, ANSWER, Chicano Moratoria, Ocuppy Fights Foreclosures, Iranian Progressive Alliance, Nancy Cisneros, Rapid Response Network- Riverside, Harmony Keepers, Colectivos de KPFK – Suplemento Comunitario, Voces de Libertad e Insurgencia Femenina, Informativo Pacifica.
In the spirit of Emilano Zapata- LA LUCHA SIGUE
Comite Prodemocracia en Mexico
Los Angeles CA Abril 13 del 2015
We ask that every organization/person/artist/collectives- think critically about this situation and/or take a stand or endorse/support this document
