Recently, Mayor Sanders appeared on the right-wing radio show of Rick Roberts supporting the minutemen “camp out” in North County migrant camps. In the two weeks since his appearance, harassment of the migrants and human right supporters has increased.

At a vigil in front of City Hall on Friday attended by several dozen San Diegans of faith, Rosemary Johnston, of the Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights, pointed out that "the lack of housing for migrant workers has become a tolerable evil in our community. To those who say, what part of illegal don't you understand, I say what part of injustice don't you understand?"

The attacks on migrant camps throughout the county, increasing harassment of day labors near Home Depots with city police assisting border agents, the open support of supremacist groups and their actions by Mayor Sanders, paints a frightening picture of a city sliding into its own Dark Age of fear, hatred and racism.

Like the proverbial duck; if it walks like a racist, talks like a racist and acts like a racist, then, His Honor, may well......

Related: The Minuteklan Rallies: Observer Arrested | Border Patrol and SDPD Arrest Day Laborers | Sean Bell, Murdered by Police in Queens | The Bride Wore Black
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This is the testimony (via phone) of a teacher from an outlying village on November 21, the day after she participated in a women's march in Oaxaca City that was was attacked by Mexican Federal Preventative Police (PFP), who have been occupying Oaxaca since October 29. She talks about the attack on the march, repression of and violence against women and children, the failure of organizations such as Amnesty International to help and the importance of international solidarity. (Spanish with english translation)

"Right now in Oaxaca there is a generalized repression, but since last week, another form of repression started, one that is geared towards children and women. When we walk by the streets where the men of the PFP, with the excuse of looking for weapons, they search us. Touching all of our bodies, both men and female, and if that was not enough, they made fun... That is why the day before yesterday, the women decided to mach and protest against the violence towards our gender, and of course against their power and violence."

"The comrades of the village asked us (women) to lead the march, because they are angry at what they (PFP) are doing (to us)... Just as we were passing by the attacks started. There was an incredible amount of tear gas that did not let us breathe or see where we were headed. We had to protect the children with our bodies and hide them under our clothes trying to get them away and we would scream that there were kids and old people there. That they needed to stop the aggression, but they had it all prepared. There was no sense in running, they were attacking from all four sides. It was then that the youth from the university arrived and began taking the kids away from the area. We were able to see that some of the guys were pulled. That is why we were so anguished, and we wanted to know what had happened to our youth. And we were told that they (PFP) pulled a female too. For about two or three hours after that, they were shooting tear gas to where we were running. And well, they had us in that state of terror, and in those moments all we could do was to pull back to the church, and to ask for medical assistance."

"We also insisted that the people we had heard were present, from amnesty international; to show up and testify the state of terror and violence they have had Oaxaca in for more than 5 months now. Unfortunately, they told us they could not come, because they had a very busy agenda."

"I world like to say that it saddens me a lot to be in the streets, and to see that I am becoming part of a now normal and typical panorama, that these aggressors, these invaders are here in our streets. It is sad to see that the warm, beautiful Oaxaca filled with brave people now is invaded by these people (PFP). And I think to my self: how long will they be here; intimidating us?"

"I know that somewhere in this world there are many hearts that will hear and understand our call, and I can assure you that we feel those invisible hands, that even though we do not see, we know they are fighting for our dignity. Especially the women: don’t leave us alone. We are not afraid, we are filled with indignation, rage for what they are doing. Keep on answering our calls. I have a lot of confidence in the help of the international community, and of course of our people. We are going to accomplish it. This century will change all the things that need to change."
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It is the annual “Souper Supper” for the San Diego Peace Resource Center. Nearly 100 people of conscience gather in secular communion: walking human artifacts; year after year, decade after decade, they have not given up their need to oppose the abomination of war.

A lagoon of white heads and gray tinted beards, ninety percent are over 50 years of age; while a good third are over seventy. It was a familiar, cozy event. There were no youth at the gathering. Only white faces, perhaps two or three brown, showed up. There were no poor people; no scruffy, smelly, homeless folks who everyday in San Diego are victims of systematic violence by city officials and police.

Amid the old timey folk music sung by the musicians at the peace supper was ironically, “The Times They Are a Changing.” Is there an unstated recognition of similarity with Bob Dylan; his cult of personality, looking out for number one, his material wealth - now a part of the problem?

Perhaps, one day there will be a spark; just one more martyr, just one more atrocity, more news of widespread torture and our gentle folks at the Peace Resources annual Souper Supper will rise up. Risking the wrath of an increasingly totalitarian state and, worse, the ostracism of family and friends still tethered to the profit and exploit order; they may sell their belongings to support the movement and become mendicants for peace.


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San Diego Police Department Officers and Border Patrol Agents arrested Day Laborers at the Home Depot on Imperial Avenue on Sunday. One of the Day Laborers told us that about six people were arrested. An elder in his late 50's or early 60's was handcuffed and surrounded by three very large white border patrol agents.
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With a press conference and presentation of a Manifesto to the Consul, the Oaxaca Solidarity Camp, which had occupied the sidewalk outside the San Diego Mexican Consulate since the invasion of Oaxaca City by Federal Preventative Forces (PFP) on October 29, closed Tuesday and moved to Chican@ Perk in Sherman Heights.

The Camp had become a center for education about the corrupt government in Oaxaca, ongoing repression and the resistance, as well as a hub for organizing activity. The Plantonistas communicated their messages using diverse tactics, including marches, rallies, banners, chants, photos, sidewalk chalk art, flyers, video showings and conversations.

As the Camp was being dismantled, the Consul Luis Cabrera presented himself to receive a copy of the VAPPOR-OAXACA Manifesto, signing a statement that he would forward it to outgoing President Vincente Fox and fraudulently elected incoming President Felipe Calderón.

Christy Will, who was present at the Camp Tuesday morning, introduced herself to the representative of the government that is violently repressing the resistance her brother Brad was documenting as he was murdered and that is sheltering his assassins. She earlier read a statement on Radio Universidad thanking the Plantonistas for their solidarity with the people of Oaxaca, expressing support for the demands of The Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO) and announcing the formation of a foundation to "support and contribute to nonviolent groups dedicated to the advancement of underserved people and communities throughout the world."

The Manifesto declares the solidarity of VAPPOR-OAXACA with the people of Oaxaca and their representatives, APPO. It connects the dots between the current struggle, the role of the international capitalist system stretching back 514 years to the European invasion, and the repression of Oaxaqueños and other migrants in the border region. It also submits demands paralleling those of APPO: immediate withdrawal of Mexican federal forces; a complete end to repression, harassment, torture and psychological warfare; freedom for all political prisoners and disappeared, with compensation; and the removal and immediate arrest, judgment and punishment of the corrupt governor Ulises Ruiz.

The Plantonistas reclaimed public space in front of the Consulate and held the space day and night despite harassment by cops and Consulate personnel in a heavily gentrified neighborhood of Little Italy, where private security forces aided by cops have made it nearly impossible to sit down, much less lie down, without buying crap.

The Camp was maintained by a coalition of individuals and groups operating on a consensus basis that came to be called VAPPOR (Vencera la Asamblea Popular del Pueblo de Oaxaca en Resistencia) OAXACA, including Oaxaqueños in San Diego County, Adherents to the Zapatista Sixth Declaration, Anarchists, Students, Migrant Advocates and others. Members of VAPPOR OAXACA plan to continue their educational efforts and actions elsewhere in San Diego.

Numerous other solidarity actions around the world have been raising awareness of ongoing repression and resistance in Oaxaca, despite a corporate media near blackout.

The Seventh MegaMarch, called for by APPO with the intention of surrounding PFP troops in the Zócalo of Oaxaca City and ejecting them on November 25, is in progress. For live coverage, check out Radio Universidad (go here and look to the right column to find the latest reliable streaming links).

Video 8min 20sec: Press Conference (espanol), Christy Will (english and espanol) and dismantling of the Camp.
Video:12min 17sec Presentation of Manifesto to Consul (espanol)
Press Release and Manifesto

Continuing Updates: espanol: 1 2 3 | english 1 2 3

UPDATE: Photos From Last Day of Planton

SD Reports: 1 2 3 4 5 6

SD Photos/Reports with Photos: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

SD Audio: 1 2 3

SD Video: 1 2 3 4 5 6

SD Features: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
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Información sobre el Plantón afuera del Consulado Mexicano en San Diego, en solidaridad con la lucha oaxaqueña y la Asamblea Popular de los Pueblos de Oaxaca.

Todo este movimiento paso desapercibido por la mayoría, pero lo bueno es que desde el plantón se logró establecer una red de apoyo y conformar una Coalición llamada vAPPOroaxaca, coalición de trabajo para continuar con las actividades de apoyo a Oaxaca. Esta coalición no es de membretes, de Organizaciones, ni de lideres, ni de caudillos, ni de vedettes en pos de la camara y las luces de neon y de la television, ésta coalicion mas que perseguir a los medios para ensanchar los egos, va encaminada a buscar opciones y puentes y es una palabra compuesta por tres palabras que significan movimiento en solidaridad con la lucha oaxaqueña cuya dirigencia es la Asamblea Popular de los Pueblos de Oaxaca. Esta coalición esta abierta para todo aquel que haciendo a un lado intereses personales o de organización, esten dispuestos a trabajar y luchar en apoyo a la causa, el ejemplo de la APPO es una guia y una enseñanza, tardará un buen tiempo para entenderla un poco, pero mientras lo hacemos los tiempos nos reclaman solidaridad y buena vibra. Sinembargo como nadie puede autonombrarse representate, portavoz o vanguardia de este movimiento, todos por nuestro lado podemos desarrollar un trabajo hormiga, real y organizativo, y en algún momento encontrarnos, como sucedio este Domingo 19 de Noviembre pasado en el festival político-cultural (con una presencia de oaxaqueños evidentemente acrecentada) afuera del Consulado Mexicano. Asi tal cual pasó sin afanes protagónico-robacamaras y de respeto mutuo por parte de todos.

Vivan los compañeros que estuvieron 24 dias en planton en San Diego,la lucha no a acabado, la lucha apenas empieza, la unidad debe trascender los discursos huecos-engañabobos de los que se sirve el gobierno. La unidad se construye desde abajo y con acciones.

Fuera Ulises Ruiz!!! Fuera la PFP!!! Libertad a los presos políticos!!!
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On Sunday November 19, a Rally in support of the resistance in Oaxaca was held at the Oaxaca Solidarity Camp, which had been occupying the sidewalk outside the San Diego Mexican Consulate continuously for three weeks.

The Rally included numerous speakers discussing the situation in Oaxaca and the courageous resistance of the people, a reading of the manifesto written by VAPPOR OAXACA (Vencera la Asamblea Popular del Pueblo de Oaxaca en Resistencia), the companer@s who been maintaining the Solidarity Camp, a phone call to Radio Universidad from a cousin of Brad Will who happened upon the Camp while visiting relatives in Little Italy, passionate and energetic music, and the dramatic arrival of marchers from another part of the city.

The Rally was part of a series of events leading up to November 20, for which the Zapatistas called for international actions in solidarity with the resistance in Oaxaca. Numerous events were held in the u.s. and globally, including a blockade of major roadways in Chiapas, a blockade, march and critical mass ride in San Francisco, and Oaxaca video showing, street theater and dance in Barcelona.

Video: Oaxaca Solidarity Camp Nov 19 Rally Part 1
Video: Oaxaca Solidarity Camp Nov 19 Rally Part 2

Past SDIMC Features on Oaxaca and the Camp: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
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On Sunday November 5th, Daniel Apra attended an informal car show in a parking lot in the 4100 block of Alpha Street in Southcrest. Daniel was on the ground helping his friend who had just been in a fight when shots were fired into the crowd of a 100 people. Daniel and another young man were shot.

At a community meeting on Monday attended by the Mayor and Chief of Police, Father Henry Rodriguez asked the Mayor if “the youth of San Diego are on the list of the city’s priorities and if so, how would the new budget reflect it?” Mayor Sanders answered “yes, our youth are a city priority.” Chief of Police Lansdowne told the crowd, “I am absolutely certain we will solve this case.”

Fransico Barrios, Daniel’s uncle, said he was born and raised in Southcrest and “this is the first time I’ve ever seen the police and the Mayor make such a fuss over a murder in this neighborhood. I hope the men didn’t just say certain things and make certain promises because of the presence of cameras.”

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The Minuteklan rallied in Vista and Carmel Valley Nov. 18th.

I was at the Home Depot on Fairmount in Mission Valley. No Minutemen came there today. It was very quiet.

Beginning at 7am this morning, a group of Minutemen amassed themselves at a day labor site outside a Vons shopping center in Vista. When we heard the Fairmount Minutepeople were in Vista, my compatriot and I headed up there, too. The group of Vista racists was perhaps 50 strong or more, bearing large signs demanding the deportation of undocumented immigrants and a policy that would establish an impermeable border. In addition to the Minutemen, a collection of 20 or so community members were present, demonstrating their solidarity with the day laborers whose ability to find work today was obstructed by the racist rally. Before I arrived on the scene, one community member had already been arrested for allegedly skateboarding without identification.

The Minutemen disbanded and made for the Carmel Valley Canyon at about 11am. The migrant population that rests in the Carmel Valley Canyon had left by the time of the Minutemen and their observers' arrival, leaving the space to a barricade of police, maybe a hundred Minutepeople, a couple of skinheads, the 15 or so who stood by to represent an opposition to racist vigilantism, a few Brown Berets, and the baffled residents of the sprawling tract housing development adjacent to the canyon.

See Also: America's Most Racist City
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VAPPOR OAXACA Rally
(Vencera la Asamblea Popular del Pueblo de Oaxaca en Resistencia)
2PM Sunday November 19
Mexican Consulate, 1549 India St. Little Italy

The Oaxaca Solidarity Camp has continuously occupied the sidewalk outside the Mexican Consulate in San Diego, 24/7, for 21 days, since the invasion of Oaxaca by Mexican federal troops on October 29, in solidarity with the Oaxacan resistance's demands put forth by The Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO): that the murderous governor Ulises Ruiz be removed, that the federal troops leave Oaxaca, and that all political prisoners be released and the disappeared be returned.

The Camp has been educating the community about the human rights violations occurring in Oaxaca and the ongoing resistance through banners proclaiming Fox and Ruiz as murderers and listing the demands of the resistance, photographs showing the invasion and the people's resistance, flowers and a Dia de los Muertos altar, flyers, rallies and marches, chants, one-on-one discussions and videos. People waiting in line outside the consulate in the morning have been particularly receptive to these messages. Corporate media showed modest, sound-bite-level interest in the events in Oaxaca and the Camp early on, but characteristically lost interest in one of the most important stories of repression and resistance of this century.

The Camp has weathered the unsuccessful efforts of consulate personnel and cops to repress its solidarity actions, including illegal detentions, surveillance, attempts at infiltration, violent threats and actions against marchers, including ramming a copcar into the wheelchair of a protester, and endeavoring to turn local businesses and residents against the protesters. Although relations with residents of the high-priced neighborhood surrounding the consulate were rocky at first, with some complaints about noise, the warmth of the people occupying the camp and the power of their message has won over the locals, leading to friendly relations, expressions of support and donations of food.

Numerous solidarity actions around the globe are planned for the days leading up to Nov 20, when the EZLN has called for solidarity blockades, including a rally at the Mexican Consulate in San Diego, 1549 India St in Little Italy on Sun Nov 19 at 2PM.

Highlights/Reports from the camp since the Oaxaca Solidarity March on Nov 5:
The Attitude of the Mexican Consul Nov 6-7: Since the Mexican government is a strict hierarchy it is no surprise that the local Mexican consul is of course their echo. Instead of acknowledging that his role is to understand and service the requests of all Mexicans, he is concerned only with offering up Mexico (and its population) to foreign tourists and investors, not caring if Oaxacans barely survive while living at the mercy of fear, exploitation, torture and murder. Read More

Meeting Held at Mexican Consulate Nov 8: Groups, organizations, collectives and individuals met in a formal attempt to develop a more consistent coordination with all people in solidarity with the Oaxacan struggle, lead by the APPO, about the responsibility of the encampment in front of the Mexican Consulate. Read More

SD Street Party: A little birdie told me that people are planning to go the Mexican Consulate in Little Italy the night that the corrupt, murderous governor of Oaxaca, Ulises Ruiz, announces his resignation, which is the principal demand of the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca, a coalition of teachers, students, farmers, indigenous groups and other social movements. Read More

Sister of Brad Will Visits Solidarity Camp Nov 10: Yesterday, Christy Will (Brad Will's sister) came to visit the Solidarity encampment in front of the Mexican consulate in San Diego. She thanked us for what we are doing and was visibly moved by the show of support that our encampment has made for the people of Oaxaca. Read More

Morning Videos Nov 15-17: Campers have been showing the video Victoria Todos Santos (PFP attack on the University repelled - Nov 2) on a laptop to the people standing in line waiting to enter the consulate in the mornings while explaining the situation in Oaxaca and the purpose of the Camp. The video helped to make real the difficult situation people in Oaxaca face and their courage and determination. Especially moving to the viewers was the interview with a young boy participating in the battle to protect the University. Watch the Video from Mal de Ojo TV

Continuing Updates: espanol: 1 2 3 | english 1 2

SD Reports: 1 2 3 NEW: 4 5

SD Photos/Reports with Photos: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 NEW: 13 14 15 16 17

SD Audio: 1 2 3

SD Video: 1 2 NEW: 3 4


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