The Zapatista Army of National Liberation (Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional, EZLN) is an armed revolutionary group (VNSA) based in Chiapas, one of the poorest states of Mexico. Since 1994, they have been in a declared war "against the Mexican state." Their social base is mostly indigenous but they have some supporters in urban areas as well as an international web of support. Their main spokesperson is Subcomandante Marcos (currently a.k.a. Delegate Zero in relation to the "Other Campaign").
Unlike other Zapatista spokespeople, Marcos is not an indigenous Mayan. The group takes its name from Emiliano Zapata, the agrarian reformer and commander of the Liberation Army of the South during the Mexican Revolution and sees itself as his ideological heir. In reference to inspirational figures, in nearly all EZLN villages exist murals accompanying images of Zapata, Che Guevara, and Subcomandante Marcos.
Their ideology combines libertarian socialism, libertarian municipalism, libertarian Marxism, and indigenous Mayan political thought. They align themselves with the wider anti-globalization, anti-neoliberal social movement and seek indigenous control over their local resources, especially land. The New York Times called the Zapatista movement the first "post-modern" revolution: an armed revolutionary group that has abstained from using their weapons since their 1994 uprising was countered by the superior military might of the Mexican army.
The Zapatistas quickly adopted a new strategy by trying to garner the support of Mexican and international socialist anarchist societies. They try to achieve this by using the internet to disseminate their statements and to enlist the support of NGOs and solidarity groups. Awareness of the Zapatista Movement has also been raised due to support from bands such as Rage Against the Machine, Leftöver Crack and Brujeria.
Okay, went to the screening for "¡VIVA MÉXICO!" tonight. It was amazing! Was going to purchase a DVD but captioned ones weren't available (my Spanish language knowledge is not impressive) :(. I'm... more
Okay, went to the screening for "¡VIVA MÉXICO!" tonight. It was amazing! Was going to purchase a DVD but captioned ones weren't available (my Spanish language knowledge is not impressive) :(. I'm going to try to find it online...
Upcoming Screening for the documentary "¡VIVA MEXICO!" Wednesday Feb 22, 2012 7PM @ Red Emma's (redemmas.org)
City of Los Angeles, USA. In the heart of the city, undocumented Mexican immigrants are... more
Upcoming Screening for the documentary "¡VIVA MEXICO!" Wednesday Feb 22, 2012 7PM @ Red Emma's (redemmas.org)
City of Los Angeles, USA. In the heart of the city, undocumented Mexican immigrants are hunted by the police and struggle to earn a living without losing their identity. On the other side of the border, in the mountains of southeastern Mexico, dawn arrives, hidden in mist. It is January 1st, 2006; thousands of indigenous Zapatistas prepare to say farewell to their spokesman Subcomandante Marcos. His mission: to travel across the country for the next six months to learn from the resistance of Mexican men and women who fight for a better Mexico.So begins a journey that plans to reach the border with the United States, at the other end of the country...
From Chiapas to Quintana Roo, from Yucatan to Oaxaca, from Nayarit to Colima, from Michoacan to Guerrero, from the State of Mexico to the heart of the country and the enormous metropolis known as Mexico City, we follow the s...