The transportation workers of the CTM (Confederación de Trabajadores de México) pretty much shut down main roads into and out of the city on Tuesday (just ask blogger buddy Chris) and Sección XXII of the teachers’ union yesterday blocked streets, today picketed government offices, and are now moving full force into the zócalo and surrounding streets.
Sigh, but don’t cry for Oaxaca. Ten thousand years of history, this valley and her people will survive. Listen and watch Lila Downs sing La Martiniana and remember its words…
Porque si lloras yo peno,
en cambio si tú me cantas, mi vida,
yo siempre vivo, yo nunca muero.
~~~
Because if you cry, I’ll be filled with sorrow
Instead, if you sing to me
I will live forever, I’ll never die.
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View From Casita Colibrí 
Visiting sporadically since our first visit more than 30 years ago, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the zocolo completely unoccupied. Always saddens me, particularly when it means kids are falling farther behind in their education. But, the good part is the exercise of free speech and protests are permitted. The State of Texas, if the City of San Antonio consents, is hoping to remove Alamo Plaza as a free speech zone, maybe even walling it in to control access. As annoying and ugly as protests can be, having a strong symbolic place to hold them represents freedom.
Yes, I can’t imagine any protest lasting more than 4 hours in front of California’s state capital and that would be after jumping through multiple permitting hoops. The public commons has become less and less public.
We were just talking with the guide from Mayan Heritage today who took us to some cenotes and he says he didn’t like Oxaca City because there is too much fighting and strife there. I of curse told him I loved it there and yes, there is a lot of strife because of injustices but that is true in Mexico City too and he nodded. Love the murals.
Yes, the mainstream media makes Oaxaca sound completely disfunctional — much like Mexico is portrayed in US media.
I was a little concerned but now feel reassured…or reminded of what is important.
Thank you, that was my intent!
Criminal Union organizations extorting and stealing money and power are a recurring part of history . now it is happening in Oaxaca.
Yes, they see the gov doing it so they do it…
But….I still don’t understand what good the blockades and occupation of the zocalo accomplishes! Apparently nothing since they continue. What is really does is hurt the merchants and common working people trying to make a living.
Can anyone explain the ratinal to me!
Definitely “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.”