November, 2020
Dear compañeras and compañeros from the Wixárika and Tepehuana/Tepecana community of San Lorenzo de Azqueltan,
Receive a greeting of solidarity on behalf of the Sexta Grietas del Norte network. We are a network of organizations and people in the United States who adhere to the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle, committed to the fight against capitalism and to the construction of networks of autonomous and collective organizations that resist against racist, colonial, and patriarchal hierarchies in this country. Our network is inspired by and stands in solidarity with our compañer@s from the EZLN, CNI, CIG, and La Sexta in Mexico and elsewhere.
We celebrate the seventh anniversary of the consolidation of the Autonomous Community of San Lorenzo de Azqueltan, and we reiterate our commitment to keep ourselves informed of your struggle, walk together with you, and to develop all the solidarity we can.
We will also support denouncing all the repression that the community has suffered recently. Because of your dignified fight for Mother Earth and your autonomy, you have suffered kidnappings, armed attacks, and death threats; all to intimidate members of your community into giving up the lands they have cultivated for centuries. These sacred lands belong to your community since you have had an ownership property title since 1733. We repudiate the actions of the rich and the bad government that prevents the recognition of this title; they are instead snatching and selling the lands of the community. Our Mother Earth is not for sale or to be stolen!
For years, the government has not intervened to stop the attackers. This negligence of the government at all levels is consistent with a racist and neoliberal capitalist state that attempts to deprive indigenous peoples by various means. Among other dispossession strategies, the government tries to transform communal lands into private property, which would allow the sale of indigenous peoples’ lands, making them available to capitalist extractive projects that loot natural resources and leave the land destroyed and impoverished.
The creation of autonomous communities is a form of resistance against capitalist privatization, which, again paves the way for extractive industries and other forms of life that are so harmful and destructive to humans and our natural environment. We salute you, brothers and sisters of San Lorenzo Azqueltán, for your brave fight in defense of your lands and ways of life.
Due to the current pandemic situation, we understand that the risk is too high for us to attend your ceremony. Yet, we look forward to attending the inauguration of your autonomous clinic when the situation improves. We will accompany your prayers in solidarity from our geographies this weekend November 21 and 22 while you celebrate your anniversary with your traditional ceremony. With your candles in your hands, keep lighting the way to autonomy. Your fight is an inspiration to the world!
We say goodbye with rage at the repression, but with deep respect and admiration for your struggle for life and autonomy,
Sexta Grietas del Norte network