Emergency Action: The Mexican Government Must Stop the Repression and Violence in San Salvador Atenco and Release All Political Prisoners Immediately
30 Portland Activists Stage Emergency Action at the Mexican Consulate
Portland, Oregon (May 8, 2006) -The Portland Central American Solidarity Committee (PCASC) is joining with people the world over in condemning the police attacks against the community of San Salvador Atenco, Mexico. 30 people gathered at the Mexican Consulate in Portland for an emergency action in solidarity with the people of Atenco.
The violence against the people of Atenco began on the morning of May 3rd, when 500 riot police attempted to forcefully evict 60 flower vendors from a street market in this town 20 miles outside of Mexico City. The government of Mexico wants to remove street vendors from the town so that they can build a Wal-Mart. Flower vendors and their supporters from the People's Front in Defense of the Land (FPDT) resisted the police assault. Initially, 94 flower vendors and their supporters were arrested and the FPDT captured eleven police officers. The attacks in Atenco are part of a national campaign to undermine traditional marketplaces to make way for U.S. big box retailers.
Currently, over 300 community activists are in jail with dozens dissapeared, one teenage boy has been shot dead by the police, and numerous women have been raped while in police custody. We demand the release off all Atenco prisoners and for the government and Wal-Mart to leave the community's marketplace alone.
The community of San Salvador Atenco has resisted the violence and corruption of Mexico's authoritarian government for years. In 2002, the people of Atenco successfully blocked Mexican President Vicente Fox's plans to build a new airport on their farmland.
During the protest, Fernando Sánchez Ugarte, the Mexican Consul General, came outside to speak with us. He claimed that he knew nothing more than what he was hearing on the news and that he would let the Secretary of Government know about our concerns. We told him that we would be monitering the situation in Atenco and would keep coming back until all political prisoners are released and the repression stops.
PCASC joins people from all over the world in demanding the immideate release of all political prionsers and an end to the repression of Mexican social movements.
Please call and email the Mexican Consul now and demand that the Mexican government and Wal-Mart stop the repression and leave San Salvador Atenco's people and markets alone: (503) 274-1442;  fersaug@yahoo.com
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