Copyright © 1995-1998 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Dear Friends,

          We have been very excited to receive all the notices about the actions that are being organized around the country. There are many more, many more people, much more enthusiasm, than in any national action before.

          Joining us are many who are not affiliates, many who have never participated in an action before, many who have met each other because the voice and proposal of the Zapatistas called them together and who will be acting together for the first time. Because of your vision and your voices these courageous indigenous communities who stand ready, firm, and clear are overcoming the media blackout, their voice rings loud and clear in your hearts and it can no longer be erased. It has overcome the cold, empty air dominated by MTV, Sony and Time-Warner (I've lost track of which corporation now owns all the networks). Their voice is yours, and it is all of us yet larger than all of us. We are all sick to death of the hopelessness, the lies, and the sleaziness of a system whose power wants us to accept the annihilation of human beings simply because they demand that humanity.

          Although my voice is not large enough to carry it, I want to thank you in their name as I know they would do so if they could. I hope that this movement will continue to grow as it must if it is to rise to the challenges to come.

          We do not want another Vietnam. We do not want to spend years reviewing body counts. A war is something which, once begun is like an avalanche. It mushrooms out of control and its pain and sorrow is a legacy for many years. It is something which occurs when there are no more options. The Zapatistas have heard your voice, and the voice of the people of Mexico. Although they were left without any options, many, many years ago; they are, above everything else, fighting for life, not for death for its own sake. As the airplanes buzz above them, and the tanks roll through the middle of their villages, they continue to hope that their fight for life is yours as well.

          Every action of yours preserves the possibility of a political solution. It is up to us faceless human beings now, to tell the machine at the Pentagon, the machine at Wall Street, the machine in Hollywood, that the 21st century will be born with the possibility of reason. That authoritarianism CAN and WILL come to an end.

          Those of you who can, please take pictures of your event, so that I may share them with the Zapatistas if I am able to see them again. I know their happiness will be even greater than mine to know how present they are in spite of the belly of the beast.

          We are in need of ideas for a follow up action because we are sure the momentum and intensity of the pressure must be continued until we see a shift in the position of the Mexican government. Please send your ideas and suggestions.

          We stand ready to do whatever we can to provide any information you may need. Please forward us reports of your events, and recommendations for broader networking.

Sinceremente,
Cecilia Rodriguez
Representative of the EZLN, USA