Report-back from Ayotzinapa from Sept 24-27, one year commemoration.

The students and parents continue in the struggle. Just days before the hunger strike of 43 hours, the parents are still doing activities. I hear them say how they should rest, they were told by the organizers that they should be well rested before the hunger strike. But of course, they are out with the Ayotzinapa atudents. Still their actions rage on. Two days before they need to be in DF they are on the highway blocking traffic and reminding everyone about Ayotzinapa and the missing 43

A day before they are supposed to be in DF for the hunger strike they are on the famous hills between Tixtla and Chilpancingo (the capital of Guerrero) unable to pass the tunnel once again to go and march in the capital. But the students and parents come prepared with rage, and thus more fotos of the enfrentment with the federal police. The parents and students say that “nos quitaron tanto que nos quitaron al miedo” they took so much from us, that they took our fear.

And the students face the police. They are enraged… they say these police are to them the same as the ones that took their 43 comrades and friends and murdered 3, leaving more than 50 injured. They don’t see the police as anything more than their archenemies.

Some mothers went to negotiate to pass the tunnel, but then received all too familiar police repression

Very heavy tear gas

The students and parents valiantly stayed for more than an hour to confront the Police but eventually had to run to their buses to escape more repression. This life of struggle has become very normal for the Ayotzinapa students and the Parents. In fact this day the rage was seen in such a way that one could not escape the reality of their lives. They are fighting for their lives. To be a public school teacher in Mexico is not only a way to escape poverty and be educated, it is also a great honor and position in the Struggle. But with the reforms of Education that the country intends to impose to basically get rid of these “Normales”(teachers colleges), that provide education for future teachers that will then teach in poor rural public schools, where most of the students come from, the country wants to privatize education like they are doing in the U.S. But here the Teachers are no joke, as they represent the socialist and communist struggle in Mexico. To be a teacher in Mexico is also to be trained in these types of politics and understanding of the poor and working class. The teachers are here for this Lucha. Unfortunately, the recent graduates of the Rural School of Ayotzinapa, are without work and currently in a campamiento in the center of the Zocalo of Chilpancingo waiting to speak with the State in order to get work in the rural public school system .

The next day business as usual, the parents get ready for the 43 hours of hunger strike for their missing 43 sons.  And here you can see a very brave mother, Dona Bertha, doing an interview despite her tiredness.

She is the mother of Julio Ceaser Ramirez Nava, one of the three that were murdered by the Police or Army. She continues in the struggle with a rage like none other and an undying love for all the muchachos (boys) of Ayotzinapa. She carries on for the three that were murdered calling them “mis treis muchachos” my three boys. She fights for them and the 43, saying that “if they were to return it would be as if my boy returned”. To hear Miss Bertha talk is always tear wrenching, after the death of her son she says she is willing to give her life in this struggle because her son is already taken and what more can they do to her.  She is the bravest, strongest, most honorable warrior woman I have ever met.

And then the parents go to Mexico City to the “planton” in the center square, aka Zocolo. Here hundreds came and went during the 43 hours, the parents were supported and taken care of by various organizations, collectives and individuals. Present were the Sexta, medics, and a huge group of independent radios and media outlets that were broadcasting live throughout the hunger strike, and a large number of outside press.

There was also performances the whole 43 hours. It was very beautiful.

There were 43 parents and family members that participated in the fast. They were staying in tents constructed by the organizations and collectives that were supporting.

However when the parents went to meet President Pena Nieto, during their fast, they were treated badly and not received any good news from him. Just the same Mentira Historica “Historic Lie”. But the parents say they will continue in their search for the real Historic Truth. And they have thousands and thousands of people behind them.     

The day of the national protest of September 26^th 2015, more than 15,000 and up to 100,000 came out, according to various sources.

The FECSM, Federation of all the Normales in the country, came to march with the Ayotzinapa students.

Chanting “Los Normales Rurales Los Quieren deseperecer pero nosotros con lucha y sangre los vamos a defender” meaning, “ They want to disappear the Rural Normales, but we with blood and struggle we will defend them.”

And they are not alone. As the parents and families of the missing students pass, thousands of protesters stand along the various monuments on the big avenue of Reforma to yell chants of support “Estamos con ustedes!”, “No estan solos”, meaning “We are with you!” and “You’re not alone!”

Soon all were drenched in rain. The march continued to roar on in the streets of Mexico City. Now drenched the Students of the Normales and other protesters chanted “Ni la lluvia, Ni al viento deterra al moviemento!! Ni los Tankes, Ni me traes, Ayotzi no se calle!” meaning, “ Nor the rain, Nor the wind will deter the movement!! Nor the tanks, Don’t even bring them, Ayotzi won’t be silenced. “

 

September 27 was the National march in Iguala, the site of the murder and disappearances of the night between the 26^th and 27^th of September, 2014. Organizations from Iguala, joined the students, parents, FECSM and more activists as they took the streets to demand once again the appearance alive of the 43 missing students. Here in the site of where the murders of the three students took place, monuments were made and put up in the very site of the deaths.

The mother of one of those murdered at this site, Doña Bertha, spoke once again, and reiterated the justice that is being sought for the murder of the students. The school band played and there was a memorial in the two sites.

The people in Iguala saw exactly what happened that night and the students of Ayotzinapa thanked them for those people in Iguala who opened up their houses to hide some of the students, who they say may not have been here if it hadn’t been for those brave families who risked their lives to help save them.  There was also a Maestra, professor from the UNAM ( University National Autonomous of Mexico) who spoke specifically about the government’s plan against the Maestros( teachers). And how this is an attack specifically to take away what the luchas in the past had so hard fought for and that is public education. She says the government looks as teachers as dangerous.

The families and parents spoke. Basically the parents are saying that the struggle continues the search continues. They reiterate that they will not stop until all their sons are returned, but also to have justice for all the thousands of disappeared in Mexico, and that justice will be brought against Pena Neito. They ask that the luchas unite in Mexico under one struggle. They also say they do not believe the “lies” about their sons and that if they are dead they want to have their bodies, see their bones, know how they died, who did the killing, who gave the order, exactly how it happened, and then have justice against those that were responsible. So they clearly have not given up. It is not a one year anniversary of a tragedy, as there is nothing to celebrate.  It is a memorial of three deaths and a commemoration of one year of struggle, undying hope; endless love that fuels the search, the marches, the meetings, the forums, the events, the connecting of struggles and peoples, the building of a movement. It is one year of learning, of listening, of building bridges, breaking barriers, Lucha crossing borders of countries and of society. Like many are saying, Ayotzinapa has become a symbol of struggle here in Mexico, blatantly pointing out the injustices and violence that are being brought on by the capitalist Narco- State. The good thing is Ayotzinapa is not just a symbol. It is a movement and it is a place; a place of Struggle, of Strength, and of undying Love.