From the Center for Strategic Anarchy: Death in the Time of Repression October 27th is the second anniversary of the death of Brad Will, an anarchist who was killed by paramilitaries in Oaxaca. Brad was a unique and wonderful human being who holds a special place in the heart of the C.S.A. He exuded a non-judgmental warmth and kindness along with an instinctive bravery and an astute mind. Like everyone, Brad was imperfect, but his presence in the anarchist milieu was a powerful inspiration to many. He is missed every single day. Long-time readers of this blog may remember last year's post on the same subject, in which the C.S.A. discussed memorializing Brad by marking the anniversary of his death with autonomous direct action. While there have been a few mentions of actions coinciding with the anniversary this year, the greatest potential for this concept lies in unannounced actions that are uncoordinated, unclaimed, and unforeseen. Just as petty arsonists have Devil's Night and stoners have April 20th, those who wish to ensure that Brad's death becomes a rallying cry rather than a faint memory can continue to claim October 27th. http://anarchiststrategy.blogspot.com/ for more.....
Here's the lyrics to a song I wrote recently in memory of Marcella Sali Grace Eiler, another Indymedia journalist who had been working in Oaxaca and who was recently raped and killed. (To the tune of Bob Dylan's "The Lonesome of Death of Hattie Carrol) Yoguez Singu killed poor Sally Grace Eiler In a lonesome old cabin in the state of Oaxaca Where he raped her and slew her with his machete Then fled from the scene and her mutilated body And drove the 2 hours back to Oaxaca City And not till over a week later, did they found her poor body But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears, Take the rag away from your face. Now ain't the time for your tears. Ulises Ortiz is a Mexican politician Feared by Oaxaca for his acts of repression And some even say that he rigged the election In 2004 when he took the governor’s office And when the teachers struck out to demand fairer wages He just silenced the press and had them arrested And when the city rose up in a wave of rebellion He used his paramilitaries to murder dozens and dozens And He would not consent to any negotiations Just continued a campaign of state terrorism But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears, Take the rag away from your face. Now ain't the time for your tears. Sally Grace Eiler was 20 years old Born in Eugene in the great state Oregon Who’d come to Oaxaca to support the rebellion And be a part of the greater struggle for freedom Spent 3 years in the city as a teacher and activist Helping out where she could by documenting the protests Or giving dance lessons and translating English And when the rest of the world forgot about the struggle She stayed in the city and remained with the people Despite her having been spied on and threatened Even though she was not part of any organizing But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears, Take the rag away from your face. Now ain't the time for your tears. Sally Grace was found in a shack all alone Her hair was ripped out and her body decomposed And it was only due to the tattoo on her arm That friends of poor sally knew it was her that’d been found And when Yoguez Singu was confronted by friends He admitted it was he who had murdered poor Sally And was then beaten and delivered to the Oaxacan police Who took Yoguez Singu into state custody But that wouldn’t bring back the life of this girl A wondering spirit who would wonder no more Victim to an act of political repression Disguised by the state as mere sexual aggression Guilty of being part of a social revolution With the additional sin of being born a woman And paid with her life in the most brutal of ways A mere 2 weeks short of her 21st birthday Oh, but you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears, Bury the rag deep in your face For now's the time for your tears.
