Mexican Citizenry Rise up to Protest Army’s Violence

FOR THOSE WHO DON’T FOLLOW CLOSELY, Mexican President Felipe Calderón (FeCal) stole the last election from Lopez Obrador with help from the same agents who helped George Fugya Bush steal the US election. I’ve blogged on these events for years, feel free to search and peruse El Grito if you want more background. The reason FeCal is president is because he is in line with the same interests who grab power around the world. Lopez Obrador was a populist, talking much in a similar vein as John Edwards did, about the People against the entrenched corrupt forces that rule. Of course, people like this line themselves up against mighty and well-funded forces and so are often killed, or derailed by one undercover move or another. FeCal thinks like those do who want to ignore causes and simply clamp down harder on symptoms and all in the name of profits or increased power of the elites. FeCal continues Vicente Fox’s coverup of corrupt politicians like Ulises Ruíz, and does the bidding of US forces who whisper in his ear, who offer monies to wiretap their citizens, and drag MX into our never-satiated maw of control and surveiilance, and all in the name of a phony War on Drugs. Anyone who stays informed understands this is bullshit, a cover for increased tyranny over la gente, for attacks against minorities, for the increased jailing of minorities, a fake morality that gives cover to violence against citizens by the federal government as well as those who wish to be “uninvolved” and look the other way claiming the government is doing a good job and “if you don’t have anything to hide, then you have nothing to worry about.” 

Meanwhile, almost 50,000 army troops have been dispatched across MX and huge violence is erupting because the cartels, who are often inextricably tied to many communities and families, are being attacked by troops. Behind the smoke and tight lines of black gear, the army and who knows what other forces, kidnap and kill any who stand in their way, be it an independent journo from the US or Mexican children. 

Well, the people of dear madre México aren’t taking it sitting down.

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico (AP) — Hundreds of people blocked bridges to the United States in three border cities Tuesday, demanding the army leave in another challenge for the Mexican government as it struggles to quell escalating drug violence.

The protests in Ciudad Juarez blocked traffic for about two hours across three bridges connecting the city to El Paso, Texas. Similar protests broke out on bridges in the border cities of Nuevo Laredo and Reynosa. Demonstrators blocked city hall and a main avenue in the northern industrial city of Monterrey and roads in the Gulf state of Veracruz.

It was the largest display of discontent against the army’s role in an anti-drug crackdown since President Felipe Calderon began deploying soldiers across the country two years ago to fight cartels. About 45,000 soldiers are now spread out across Mexico.

—Marchers block US border to protest army presence

 

We can ignore this for a tiny bit longer, maybe. But the truth is, all these injustices we rail against are connected. No border can separate them. Once we join hands in fighting the crooked elites who trick and rule and exploit us, they have no hope of winning. Meanwhile, you take chunks out of the lurching, hissing, beast of oppression wherever you can.

Still, I am terribly proud of Mexicans today. And every day.