Historic events unfolding in Mexico with formation of the Indigenous Governing Council

Thanks to all who have donated to support the National Indigenous Congress in this autonomous organizing initiative! This fundraising campaign is now closed.

Fall 2017

Dear friends,

Over the past few months, some awe-inspiring events have taken place throughout Mexico. As widespread state violence and an onslaught of mega-development projects have given rise to unprecedented numbers of dead, disappeared, and displaced across the country, the National Indigenous Congress (CNI) along with the EZLN have decided to go on an entirely peaceful “offensive.” With over 500 communities from 43 different indigenous peoples with presence in 25 Mexican states, the CNI has formed an anti-capitalist Indigenous Governing Council (CIG) which will operate on the CNI’s seven principles of “rule by obeying”* to organize and coordinate the survival and resistance of both indigenous and non-indigenous peoples throughout Mexico as well as the protection of the environment and its natural resources.

In a historic first, this Indigenous Governing Council has named an indigenous woman as their spokesperson and a candidate for the Mexican presidential elections of 2018. The CNI has made clear, however, that this candidacy is not about electoralism but rather a vehicle through which to promote the expansion of autonomy and self-government in communities, neighborhoods, and cities across Mexico.

We write you now with an pressing, one-time appeal for donations to help with the many expenses in transportation, meetings, and regional assemblies involved in building the Indigenous Government Council. The CNI can accept international funds only through late October when they will begin the process of registering their candidate.

Over three years ago, you, along with over 2,000 organizations, intellectuals, and activists from North America and beyond—including Mumia Abu-Jamal, Noam Chomsky, Angela Davis, Junot Diaz, Cornel West, Emory Douglas, the IWW, the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, and many others—denounced the paramilitary attack on the Zapatista community of La Realidad and the murder of community member Compañero Galeano with a week of solidarity actions. We hope you will donate now with as much enthusiasm; in these dark times, it is vital and a rare privilege to be able to support autonomous organizing of such magnitude and consequence.