Gabriela León Vázquez gave an artist talk at UC Santa Cruz on January 29th about her exhibition at UCSC’s Sesnon Gallery, Sunday Walk to the Zócalo of Oaxaca (Paseo dominical por el Zócalo de Oaxaca). She was born in Cuautla, Morelos, Mexico in 1973, and is currently living and working in Oaxaca. The exhibition, on display until March 8th, is a multi-media artistic response to the popular revolt and resistance that unfolded in Oaxaca in 2006 and 2007, including photos from the Peoples’ Guelaguetza (la Guelaguetza Popular) on July 16th, 2007.
The following audio was recorded at UCSC’s Oakes College room 105 and edited into two tracks; Gabriela León’s presentation, followed by the question and answer session. Read More, View Photos and Listen to Audio
Question and Answer
Early in the morning of Wednesday, November 7th, activists opposed to UC Santa Cruz’s Long Range Development Plan (LRDP) launched a tree-sit in redwoods near Science Hill. UCSC plans to develop the occupied site into a new Biomedical Sciences Facility.
Hundreds of students crowded into the College Nine-Ten Multipurpose Room on October 27th for the 5th annual Practical Activism Conference at UC Santa Cruz. The room’s capacity was maxed out when Angela Davis spoke and approximately 175 students heard the speech through speakers setup outside the Multipurpose Room. Activist organizations based on campus and in the community were tabling, food was provided and the workshops were very well attended.
On October 12th, 2006, Al Rojas of Sacramento and Fernando Mendoza from the Peoples Popular Assembly of Oaxaca (APPO) spoke to a packed house at the Watsonville Brown Beret office about the situation in Oaxaca. Al introduces Fernando and speaks a little of his role as a stateside organizer. Fernando tells us the history and present situation in Oaxaca, Mexico.
On October 2nd, 2006, the 38th anniversary of the Tlatelolco Massacre, I spoke with Shannon Young, Headlines Producer for Free Speech Radio News, who lives in Oaxaca City, Mexico. The 1968 student massacre at Tlatelolco in Mexico City sets a creepy undertone for the military provocations currently taking place in Oaxaca City which include low-flying marine helicopters. Shannon also discusses MegaMarches, the march from Oaxaca City to Mexico City and the technicalities of getting Ulises Ruiz Ortiz (URO) to leave office. 
