March for Brad Will

I went to a march today organized by the Oaxacan teachers' union and APPO (The Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca), an organization that formed in 2006 in response to the governor's use of force against the striking teachers union.

The march started in the neighborhood of Santa Lucía del Camino with a memorial for Brad Will, an American journalist, who was shot in October of 2006 while covering the teachers' strikes and APPO demonstrations. Democracy Now did a great piece on Brad that summerizes the situation in Oaxaca at the time and the current development of the investigation of his killers. In short, the person accused of the crime is a member of the APPO and thus unlikely to have an independent journalist covering it's struggle. Three or four men were captured on film holding guns and shooting in the direction of the protestors. His parents are calling for a full investigation and justice.

At the march today, Los Raices, the Son Jarocho band that I saw live two weeks ago played a few songs including "Son de la baricada", about the APPO.
There was a shrine for Brad and some Union Officials planted a tree on the side of the road. We marched into the center of the city and the teachers all had meetings. I went home shortly after.

During the march, my friend Luz comented to me that Mexico is a country of institutions. Teachers, Police, even doctors all have their bosses to answer to and their orders. Teachers don't apply to work at specific schools, but are assigned one (usually far-away rural places when they first start working) and must put in their time at marches and meetings before they can earn enough points to be moved to a city in their seniority. It is being considered in Mexico to merge all police forces into a large homogeneous force under one control. As it is now, police operate with a certain level of impunity, and often their badges are more of a shield for themselves than for the people they are serving and protecting. The experience was interesting for its social and emotional power. And mom, rest assured there were no problems with the police this time.