If, after the long battle, the ruthless Oaxacan state government thought that the APPO was too afraid to return to the streets, they were wrong. We have once again come out in protest, filled with rage and indignation but also with creativity. We march this time in silence because Oaxaca is again in mourning as anger and pain have become one in our hearts.

APPO baby Jesus protests along side his people

The march started at 4pm in the valley. The relatives of the political prisoners and the members of the APPO General Council marched first, carrying a wreath. Throughout the entire march, one could see the various manifestations of our silence: a grim reaper with his black veil along side a man carrying a doll dressed in seemingly blood-stained clothes and a sign with an old slogan: “This is what happens in our democratic nation.” Further ahead, there was an APPO baby Jesus and a Virgin of the Barricades who had both come out to show their support.

The march route was short; it went along Juárez Avenue to Morales to García Vigil where the contingent then filed into the zócalo (main plaza). Up until that point the march had been silent, but once the meeting begun, chants filled the air. The people shouted “Shoulder to shoulder, side by side, we are the APPO, the APPO, the APPO!” and “Free the political prisoners!,” relentlessly.

During the concentration, people discussed last Monday’s battle and people hugged one another. “I’m so glad you’re ok, I was so worried about you,” “We won’t give up, we’re going to keep on fighting,” could be heard all around.

Several actions were decided upon during the meeting: the APPO General Council would remain in session continuously; today [Thursday] there would be a popular neighborhood assembly at 4pm in the Law School; the boycott against la Guelaguetza* on July 21 to 23 and 27 to 29 and the holding of massive demonstrations was confirmed; a people’s trial against the repressive government in the Mexico City on August 3 and 4 was called for; and, there is was to be a march every three days—beginning today and continuing until the political prisoners are released. Also, the teachers union Sección 22 (Section 22) reaffirmed its commitment to the struggle.

“Shoulder to shoulder, side by side, we are the APPO, the APPO, the APPO!”

As the police continued making their rounds, we heard that two of our fellow APPO and student-movement members—Adán Rubén Vázquez and Herzain Michel López—had been detained on Tuesday night. And as the act was ending, text messages began arriving informing us that 36 of our arrested comrades were being taken to the Tlacolula jail.

In Oaxaca, there is no peace. Rather, we are in a state of siege as arbitrary arrests, police vigilance and human rights violations form a part of our daily life. What else needs to happen before the world opens its eyes to what’s going on here? The commercial Guelaguetza will again represent an offense towards our people and we will be sure to respond in kind. There shall not be an “official” Guelaguetza and there will be no peace in Oaxaca until Ulises the tyrant and all of his tyrannous aids are behind bars. We say no more political prisoners—rather, make the politicians themselves the prisoners.

*The Guelaguetza is an annual cultural celebration that takes place at the end of July in Oaxaca. The celebration dates back to pre-Columbian times and remains a defining characteristic of Oaxacan culture. Communities from within the state of Oaxaca gather to present their regional culture in the form of music, costumes, dances, and food. It is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Oaxaca and an important event for the reputation and economy of the state and its government, hence the APPO has called for a boycott of the official celebration and has announced it will hold its own People’s Guelaguetza instead.