On the 500th anniversary of the colonial dependence of the Aztec Empire, a Zapatista delegation visits Europe. Objective: to create cross-border networks and to have a global vision. Squadron 421 has not stopped in symbolic letters. A team of four women, two men and one (the other, the Zapatistas say in Spanish) has given us several lessons in these few days.
"We're doing the same fighting." With these words, we were greeted by a spokesman for the Zapatistas in the Basel camp. Between 27 and 29 August we had the opportunity to make known the small struggles and revolutions. With modest words and affinity, because the Zapatistas have not come to teach us, but to see and hear how we fight and then tell us in their people.
The first action is the feminist judgment, all who depend on patriarchal structures have the opportunity to publicly denounce authors and oppression. Dissident women and genres denounced in several languages. Lupita, Yuli, Ximena, Carolina, Mari Jose, Bernal and Felipe listening, taking notes in their papers.
"Because the Zapatistas have not come to teach us, but to see and hear how we fight, and then tell us back in their village."
From there, the seven members of the squad travelled to the Juro Mountains, where they spent another two days in Zürich. The Zapatistas told us that they were few words, that they are more lovers of action or praxis. But the beautiful brushstrokes they gave us in the few simple words ... They told us practical examples of their struggles and ways of doing. How they participate in political and social organization. How they face structural violence without mentioning the word patriarchy. Among the questions, they were fleeing to make proposals about our struggle: “You have to look for your way. We were delighted to see that many women are fighting. But we realize how difficult it is to organize and that’s why our message is: you are not alone.” We’ve also come to say that on this journey…
In another speech, one asked them: What advantages and disadvantages have you seen between you and our situation? “You have the wolf very close and that makes it difficult to fight and organize, we have long been away from the wolf.” The Zapatistas talked about the autonomy they had built outside the capitalist system. After the 1994 uprising they build and self-rule for the people and the people, far from the wolf…