[News] Brad Will - last dispatch from Oaxaca

[Anti-Imperialist News]

Subject: friend and  companero brad was killed
Our friend, brother, and companero, Brad Will  was killed today by
paramilitaries in Oxaca Mexico.

Brad has been an  inspiring and passionate militant, joining
struggles all over the world, from  land occupations in the Pacific
North West of the US, to direct actions against  global capital, to
rebellions in Argentina, land occupations in Brazil,
and  anti-privatization struggles in Bolivia. Brad was always a part
of whatever he  was in. He was always with people, not organizing
them. He taught me, and so  many others so much through example. He
will be missed in so many  ways.

Brad was a part of our communities. We should remember him with
the  love and affection that he showed, and we feel. We should also
carry on with  direct action to stop those that are trying to stop
social creation, in the US,  Mexico, Argentina, and the globe.

brad Presente!
brad  presente!
brad Presente!


Brad's last email dispatch ...
early  dawn, oct16

yesterday i went for a walk with the good people of oaxaca -- was  walking
all day really -- in the afternoon they showed me where the bullets  hit the
wall -- they numbered the ones they could reach -- it reminded me of  the
doorway of amadou diallos home -- but here the grafitti was there before  the
shooting began -- one bullet they didnt number was still in his head --  he
was 41 years old -- alejandro garcia hernandez -- at the  neighborhood
barricade every night -- that night he came out to join his wife  and sons to
let an ambulance through -- then a pickup tried to follow -- he  took their
bullet when he told them they could not pass -- they never did --  these
military men in civilian dress shot their way out of there
a  young man who wanted to only be called marco was with them when the
shooting  happened -- a bullet passed through his shoulder -- he was clearly
in shock  when we met -- 19 years old -- said he hadnt told his parents yet
-- said he  had been at the barricade every night -- said he was going back
as soon as  the wound closed -- absolutely
just days before there was a delegation of  senators visiting to determine
the ungovernability of the state -- they got a  taste -- the call went out to
shut down the rest of the government -- dozens  went walking out of the
zocalo city center with big sticks and a box full of  spray paint -- they
took control of 3 city buses and went around the city all  morning visiting
local government buildings and informing them that that they  were closed --
and we appreciate your voluntary cooperation -- and they filed  out preturbed
but still getting paid -- shut -- as they pulled away from the  last stop 3
gunmen came out and started shooting -- 2 buses had already  pulled away --
mayhem -- 10 minute battle with stones and slingshots and  screaming -- one
headwound -- another through the leg -- made their way to  the hospital while
the fighting continued -- shout out on the radio and  people came from all
parts -- the gunmen were around the side of the building  -- they got away --
they were inside -- no one sure -- watchful  --  undercover police were
reported lurking around the hospital and folks went  running to stand watch
over the wounded
what can you say about this  movement -- this revolutionary moment -- you
know it is building, growing,  shaping -- you can feel it -- trying
desperately for a direct democracy -- in  november appo will have a state
wide conference for the formation of a state  wide assemblea estatal del
pueblo de oaxaca (aepo) -- now there are 11 of 33  states in mexico that have
declared formation of assemblea populares like  appo -- and on la otra lado
in the usa a few -- the marines have returned to  sea even though the federal
police who ravaged atenco remain close by -- the  new encampment in mexico
has begun a hunger strike -- the senate can expell  URO -- whats next
nobodies sure -- it is a point of light pressed through  glass -- ready to
burn or show the way -- it is clear that this is more than  a strike, more
than expulsion of a governor, more than a blockade, more than  a coalition of
fragments -- it is a genuine peoples revolt -- and after  decades of pri rule
by bribe, fraud, and bullet the people are tired -- they  call him the tyrant
-- they talk of destroying this authoritarianism -- you  cannot mistake the
whisper of the lancandon jungle in the streets -- in every  street corner
deciding together to hold --  you see it their faces  --  indigenous, women,
children -- so brave -- watchful at night -- proud and  resolute
went walking back from alejandros barricade with a group of  supporters who
came from an outlying district a half hour away -- went  walking with angry
folk on their way to the morgue -- went inside and saw him  -- havent seen
too many bodies in my life -- eats you up  -- a stack of  nameless corpes in
the corner -- about the number who had died -- no  refrigeration -- the smell
-- they had to open his skull to pull the bullet  out -- walked back with him
and his people and now alejandro waits in  the zocalo -- like the
others at their plantones
-- hes waiting for an  impasse, a change, an exit, a way forward, a way out,
a solution -- waiting  for the earth to shift and open -- waiting for
november when he can sit with  his loved ones on the day of the dead and
share food and drink and a song --  waiting for the plaza to turn itself over
to him and burst -- he will only  wait until morning but tonight he is
waiting for the governor and his lot to  never come back -- one more death --
one more martyr in a dirty war -- one  more time to cry and hurt -- one more
time to know power and its ugly head --  one more bullet cracks the night --
one more night at the barricades -- some  keep the fires -- others curl up
and sleep -- but all of them are with him as  he rests one last night at his
watch


Claude Marks
Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 863-9977