On January 1, 1994, Indigenous peoples from Chiapas, Mexico, rose up. They took control of city halls in towns across the state. They took the state capital San Cristobal de las Casas. And they held them for days, despite a violent response from Mexico’s military. This was not just any movement confined to the mountainous jungles of Mexico. It was an Indigenous uprising against injustice. An uprising against neoliberalism. An uprising against globalization and free trade agreements, and it would have deep reverberations. Inspiring people, not just in Mexico, but around the world. BIG NEWS! This podcast has won Gold in this year’s Signal Awards for best history podcast! It’s a huge honor. Thank you so much to everyone who voted and supported. Sign up for the Stories of Resistance podcast feed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, or wherever you listen. And please take a moment to rate and review the podcast. A little help goes a long way.The Real News’s legendary host Marc Steiner has also won a Gold Signal Award for best episode host. You can listen and subscribe to the Marc Steiner Show here on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.Please consider supporting this podcast and Michael Fox’s reporting on his Patreon account: patreon.com/mfox. There you can also see exclusive pictures, videos, and interviews.  Written and produced by Michael Fox.Resources: First Declaration of the Lacandona Jungle Zapatista: a Big Noise Film Mexico: Ezln Leader Subcomandante Marcos Interview Chiapas and the Zapatistas – Mexico’s Brutal Land Dispute Documental: El Fuego y la Palabra (EZLN, México) Transcript MICHAEL FOX [NARRATOR]: On January 1st, 1994, something remarkable happened in Chiapas, Mexico. Indigenous peoples from Mexico’s mountainous, southeastern-most state rose up. They took control of city halls in towns across the state. The took the state capital San Cristobal de las Casas. And they held them… for days, despite a violent response from Mexico’s military. And this was not just any movement confined to the mountainous jungles of Mexico. It was an Indigenous uprising against injustice. An uprising against neoliberalism. An uprising against globalization and free trade agreements, and it would have deep reverberations… Inspiring people, not just in Mexico, but around the world. See… January 1, 1994 was not just the day of the Zapatista uprising. It was also the day that NAFTA — The North America Free Trade Agreement — would go into effect.  That was not a coincidence. They chose that day because NAFTA was already destined to push privatizations, eliminate rural jobs and rip the land from as many as 2 million small farmers over the coming years. NAFTA’s free market agenda was created to deepen neoliberalism in favor big, powerful, and largely U.S. corporations. And they knew it. “Today, we say, Basta — ENOUGH IS ENOUGH”, the Zapatista leader Subcommandante Marcos said in the first Declaration of the Lacandona Jungle. “We are a product of 500 years of struggle: first against slavery, then during the War of Independence against Spain led by insurgents, then to avoid being absorbed by North American imperialism.” “To the People of Mexico,” We, the men and women, full and free, are conscious that the war that we have declared is our last resort, but also a just one. The dictators are applying an undeclared genocidal war against our people for many years. Therefore we ask for your participation, your decision to support this plan that struggles for work, land, housing, food, health care, education, independence, freedom, democracy, justice and peace. We declare that we will not stop fighting until the basic demands of our people have been met by forming a government of our country that is free and democratic.” The EZLN, or Zapatista National Liberation Front, held cities for almost two weeks, but the Mexican military responded with widespread violence — an unrelenting assault, killing dozens of Indigenous members of the uprising.  A hundred thousand people protested in Mexico City against the government’s repression. The Zapatistas were much more than a guerrilla army. They were, and still are, a political movement. A movement based on Indigenous communal and collective organizing and control.  And this was just the beginning.  They returned to their mountain villages. They consolidated and they inspired.  They formed autonomous Zapatista communities organized through democratic decision-making. Collective power.  People from around the world came to learn. They came to study. They came to support. The Zapatistas became a political force across Mexico. They did caravans across the country. They held international meetings.  They were a symbol of resistance in the heyday of the neoliberal, globalized age…  A symbol of hope in the 1990s and into the 2000s, at a time when hope was in short supply.  They are still a symbol of resistance and hope. Standing up in defense of their Indigenous lands in the jungles of Chiapas.  Standing for another way, against the power of the big corporations, and the elites and the United States. Standing for one another in Mexico’s Lacandon Jungle.  Thanks for listening. I’m your host Michael Fox.  The Zapatistas rose up on January 1st, 1994, just over three decades ago. They remain an inspiration for social movements, communities and individuals seeks change around the world.  Folks, if you have not heard, I have some really exciting news…. We have just launched Season 2 of Under the Shadow. PLEASE check it out. In the first episode I look at what’s driving Trump’s threats in Latin America today and the dangers of a renewed Monroe Doctrine for the region. As always, if you enjoy this podcast, and you appreciate my reporting, I hope you’ll consider following me on Patreon and becoming a paid subscriber. You’ll get updates every time I’ve posted something new online. And if you like what’s there, I have a ton of exclusive content, only available to my paid supporters. Every supporter really makes a difference. Those that sign up between now and the end of the year, will get a free digital copy of my latest music album. You can check it all out at www.patreon.com/mfox. I’ll add a link in the show notes. This is episode 83 of Stories of Resistance. If you don’t already subscribe to the show you can follow the links in the show notes. Stories of Resistance is produced by The Real News. Each week I bring you stories of resistance and hope like this. Inspiration for dark times.  Folks… If you like what we do, please do me a favor and rate us, follow us, leave a comment or a review, and help us spread the word. It really helps to get the word out about the show. As always, thanks for listening. See you next time. ...read more read less