On June 11 in Coachella Ca., the Comité Latino organized a protest to show support and solidarity with the student movement in Mexico called, Yo soy # 132 (I Am #132). The students in Mexico are struggling to prevent the return to the dictatorship of the PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party,) and their candidate Enrique Peña Nieto. As we go to press, on the first of July the Mexican people will vote for a new president, but the media is reporting as if Nieto has already won.
The participants in the protest which took place in Coachella chanted, “I Am 132,” “No To Media Control,” “Mexico, No More Violence, “ “No More Deaths,” and “No More Corruption.” Passing cars honked their support, and people waved. Also showing their support by participating in the protest were members of Occupy Coachella Valley. (http://www.tribunodelpueblo.org/2012/08/yo-soy-132-coachella-california-2/) The Comité Latino is organizing more protests before the first of July.
One young woman explained, “We heard about the student protests, but there was nothing on TV news, so we went on the internet. We saw that thousands were marching in the streets of Mexico, and that the special forces of the PRI were attacking them. One video showed six of these agents beating one youth. In spite of this violence, the students responded calmly and bravely. But they did not report any of this on television.”
Here are some more comments by the protesters:
T.P.: Why are you protesting?
“Because in Mexico there is the strong possibility that the July 1st elections can be manipulated so Mexico will return to the old PRI system of dictatorship.”
T.P.: What do you believe is the best way forward for Mexico?
“The people need to take control of their own destiny. We need to reclaim the fruits of our labor. We need to put an end to the corruption and the violence, and take control of our country. This is the only way we can improve our lives and win.”
