Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead is celebrated all throughout Mexico and some parts of Latin America on November 2nd. This celebration reminds us that death is a transition in life and not an end, thereby challenging Western dual concepts about life. Families prepare for the festivity by building alters (or ofrendas) in memory of their loved ones and visiting their graves. In Oaxaca, Dia de los Muertos is an important celebration where many family members remain hopeful and keep the spirits of their loved ones alive and close to them. Check out our newsletter to hear an interview on how the family of Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes, one of 26 people that died during the 2006 movement, is celebrating Dia de los Muertos this year. Make sure to also read an article-ofrenda about the family of Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes and the family of Fong Lee -two families that lost loved ones in the face of paramilitary oppression in Oaxaca and police brutality in Minneapolis. Also, check out an independent media film festival in honor of Brad Will, and a Universal Call-out to protest the Acteal massacre of 1997 in Chiapas.

Beginning of the 27th of October and continuing through the month of November, CASA Chapulín will be participating in the First Independent Media Film Festival in honor of the life of Brad Will.

After an investigation that lasted a year and a half the Supreme Court announced that it had found Ulises Ruiz Otriz to be responsable of the violation of individual rights during the social conflict that exploded in 2006. Surprisingly the court went against the advice of one of its own judges, Mariana Azuela, who had made a recommendation that the court excuse Ruiz just two days before. The judges refused to lay blame on Vicente Fox, president during 2006, nor Felipe Calderon, the current President, for any of the violations of human rights. At first glance the finding appears to be a victory for the poeple of Oaxaca, but upon reading it more in depth things are not so clear. The justices decided only that URO did not fulfill his obligation to maintain public order and that his omission led to general disorder in the capital city and adjacent areas, essentially blaming Ruiz for not cracking down soon enough.

Brad Will was killed in Oaxaca 3 years ago. Official investigations into his death have still not established any truth or justice for what happened. Meanwhile Juan Manuel Martinez has been jailed for over a year on the basis of flawed evidence and he appears to have been used as a scapegoat by the Mexican authorities.

Let us call together for the reopening of the investigation of the Acteal’s massacre case as a State crime, and let us honour the victims on the Mexican Day of the Dead. Join those individuals and groups who care in the place you live in, in order to organize a vigil for the night of November the 1st, 2009, followed by a demonstration, sit-in or any other peaceful act the following day (the Mexican Day of the Dead).

Ana Maria Garcia Arreola, an indigenous rights activist from Oaxaca, Mexico will be speaking at five Long Island venues next week. This tour is organized by Witness for Peace and the Hagedorn Foundation, in partnership with the many local organizations that are hosting Ana Maria all over Long Island. Below is the tour schedule.

Lou Dobbs uses his platform on CNN to spread myths and misinformation about Latinos and immigrants, even as his network is wooing Latino viewers. It’s time we said enough. Ya basta! Join us in calling on CNN to get rid of Dobbs!

On September 9, 2009 the State Congress of Oaxaca approved a reform in the State Constitution Article 12 to outlaw abortion, effectively violating the rights of women, their reproductive autonomy, and life in general. This reform was initiated last January by Patricia Woolrich, legislator of the Partido Accion Nacional (PAN or National Action Party), a conservative political party in Mexico with ties to the conservative Catholic hierarchy. Oaxaca is now the 16th state in Mexico that approved this reform.