Paramilitaries Enter Oaxaca: NYC Indymedia Journalist Killed

On Friday, October 27, truckloads of pro-government paramilitaries opened fire on a barricade in the outskirts of the Mexican State of Oaxaca, which has been under local control for the past five months. The gunmen killed five people, including US Indymedia journalist and cameraman Bradley Roland Will, aka Brad Will. According to La Jornada, Will died before reaching the hospital. Among the dead were also: Emililio Alofonzo Fabian (professor), José Alberto López Bernal (nurse), Fidel Sánchez García (construction worker), and Esteban Zurita López. Seventeen are reported wounded, including a photographer from the newspaper Milenio Diario, who was at Will's side.

The teachers strike, which began in June of 2006, initially demanded "school uniforms and shoes for all students, more scholarships, and an increased budget for school buildings and equipment," according to an In These Times article published on August 21. Striking teachers and other groups have formed the APPO - the Popular Assembly of the Oaxacan People - and have called for the removal of the governor of state Ulises Ruiz of the PRI.

Since these murders took place, friends of Brad Will and others in solidarity with the people of Oaxaca have made these additional demands:

1. Ulises Ruiz out of Oaxaca!
2. Immediate withdrawal of the occupying federal forces from Oaxaca!
3. Immediate and unconditional freedom for all detainees!
4. Justice for all murdered compañeros and punishment of guilty parties on all levels!

There is a long history of Mexico using government sponsored paramilitaries to repress social movements, including a massacre of hundreds of students in Mexico City in 1968. As reports of protesters surrounded by armed government forces and police continue to pour in, activists in cities around the world are planning protests at Mexican embassies in outcry against the violent aggression against the people of Oaxaca.

Will, age 36, had worked with Indymedia Centers in New York, Bolivia and Brazil, and is believed to be the first Indymedia journalist to be killed while reporting.

Oaxaca Updates: NYC Indymedia || Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO) || Oaxaca IMC || Mexico IMC || CML Mexico || Radio APPO (mp3 for Winamp) || transliteration of Radio APPO || The Narco News Bulletin || La Jornada || Por Esto - Titulares de Hoy: A Struggle Oriented Newspaper with constant Oaxaca updates (En Espanol) || Indymedia US || Global IMC || Friends of Brad Will || Indy Bay IMC || deleteTheBorder

Multimedia: Last footage from Brad Will in Oaxaca || Friends of Brad Will Shut Down the Mexican Consulate in NYC || The Battle of Radio Universidad / " Batalla por Radio Universidad" || Multimedia de la rebelión popular en Oaxaca || Chicago Stands with Oaxaca || I Really Like the Cops by Brad Will || DN!: Brad Will 1970-2006: Friends Remember Indymedia Journalist and Activist Killed in Oaxaca || Indymedia On Air: Brad Will and Oaxaca || radiozapote || Photos from the battle in Oaxaca || Radio Planton (Oaxaca) || Radio Sabotaje || Brad Will Slide Show

Additional Information on Brad Will and Oaxaca: Death in Oaxaca: Brad Will's Last Communiqué || Special Edition of the Indypendent: Death of a Journalist: Remembering Brad Will || Teacher Rebellion in Oaxaca || Solidarity and Press Statements on Oaxaca and Brad Will's Death || Testimonials and Tributes to Brad Will || The New York City Independent Media Center responds to the death of Brad WILL || Statement by the Family of Brad Will

TAKE ACTION! Sign a Letter for Press Freedom || Sign a Letter in Support of the People of Oaxaca || Join the Electronic Blockade of Mexican Embassy and Consulate Websites || Send a message to Congress to STOP THE VIOLENCE IN OAXACA! || Send a message to the Mexican Government to STOP THE VIOLENCE IN OAXACA! || Donate