It felt strange to Cecilia Santiago Vera to be in a place that was once considered to be apart of Mexico.

Mexico and the U.S. have always been neighbors and shared a relationship that has transformed over time, Vera said. This relationship is even closer now because of the arrival of migrants into the U.S.

Vera, a social psychologist from San Cristobol, Mexico, was brought down to give a speech about the Zapatista movement in Chiapas, Mexico. The vent was hosted by Tucson based activist group La Otra.

The Zapatista movement, sponsored by the Zapatista Army of National Liberation, supports the rights of indigenous groups to regain land that has been seized by the Mexican government, said Helain Day, Coalicion Derechos Humanos volunteer.

Rachel Myers,Mexico Solidarity Network volunteer and translator for Vera, said that is important to talk about over arching issues that connect people such as militarization, immigration and neo liberal policies.

Vera’s presence represents a step in the right direction towards spreading knowledge about the injustices that happen around the world, Myers said.

Mexico, in particular, is more vulnerable to these injustices, Vera said.

“We live in a world that is capitalist and filled with those who have the most money, the most resources and those who have the most possibility to get ahead,” Vera said. “We must recognize that dynamic.”

This dynamic is extended to the political classes who do not represent the interests general public, Vera said. We don’t live in a democracy.

“In Mexico, the majority of the 60 million of us live in the category of poverty,” Vera said. “We can ask ourselves “What’s left to do as a people? Do we withstand the system? Do we passively live with it? Do we construct alternatives?”

Vera then turned to the audience to provide examples of political disappointment in the U.S.

Leilani Clark, audience member, recalls feeling disappointed with the reelection of George W. Bush in 2004.

“When we realized that Bush was going to be reelected, we were in a state of shock,” Clark said. “We just believed so much that he wasn’t going to be re elected and then it happened.”


Political unrest and belief in its mission are what drives the dedication and patience of Zapatistas, Vera said. The Zapatista movement is so important because it tells you to recognize your indigenous roots and not ignore them.

However, the Mexican government does not want the Zapatista movement to be successful, Vera said. They have issued military warfare on Chiapas most vulnerable population.

“(They) not only use the military but the economy. They use the press and psychology to manipulate communities,” Vera said. “The target is the civilian population.”

After the talk, La Otra featured a video directed by the Chiapas Media Project, which showed Zapatistas women making jewelry and fabric in order to participate the fair trade market.

The women wore stocking caps around their faces to disguise their identity as a sign of anonymity and because of the danger that is associated with the being a Zapatista, Day said.

"People kill them for political reasons," Day said.