Protestors block Mexico City traffic, tent city rises

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Mon, Jul. 31, 2006
Protestors block Mexico City traffic, tent city rises
By KEVIN DIAZ and DAVID OVALLE
Knight Ridder Newspapers

MEXICO CITY - Supporters of leftist presidential runner-up Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador turned a two-mile stretch of Mexico City's main thoroughfare into a virtual tent city on Monday, blocking rush-hour traffic and grinding much of downtown to a halt.

City police made no attempt to interfere with the largely peaceful "permanent assembly," which Lopez Obrador organized to press his demand for a recount in his narrow loss to conservative Felipe Calderon in the July 2 presidential elections.

Calderon's camp accused Mexico City Mayor Alejandro Encinas of cooperating with the demonstrators and called for police to clear the demonstrators. But Encinas, a member of Lopez Obrador's Party of the Democratic Revolution, or PRD, called for calm as he sought negotiations with the protest organizers.

"We're going to act with moderation and intelligence in confronting difficult times on the national political scene, with the understanding that this is a national problem, not just a problem for Mexico City," he said.
(snip/...)

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/15164877.htm

[Bozita]

1. Tent cities always remind me of Douglas MacArthur and the Bonus Army

[Judi Lynn]

2. This source claims this gathering is Mexico's largest in history!

1 million march on Mexico City
Another protest demands vote recount
By Kevin Diaz And David Ovalle
MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

~snip~
But police said it was the largest demonstration in Mexico's history, and analysts said it was enough to lend momentum to L—pez Obrador's case, which is being considered by Mexico's federal election tribunal, which must declare a winner by Sept. 6.

"The electoral tribunal has to rule independently, but they have to be aware of public opinion," said John Ackerman, a law professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

L—pez Obrador said he would not hold another mass march but instead would organize 47 "permanent assemblies" of supporters who would hold around-the-clock vigils throughout the city until the tribunal rules.

"We will be here until we have a recount of the votes that gives us a legitimate president," L—pez Obrador told the cheering crowd.
(snip/...)

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/news/world/15161619.htm

[eleny]

3. they aren't giving up

k&r :kick:

[ziggy_luv]

4. Obrador rocks

[Judi Lynn]

5. Leftist's Supporters Flood Mexico City

Leftist's Supporters Flood Mexico City

By MARK STEVENSON
The Associated Press

MEXICO CITY —

Supporters of Mexico's leftist presidential candidate paralyzed the capital's financial district with makeshift protest camps Monday, saying they won't leave until the nation's top electoral court rules on their demand for a recount of the disputed election.

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's followers set up dozens of makeshift camps that blocked most traffic on one of the main arteries in this megalopolis of 20 million people, snarling the already chaotic rush hour, slowing freeways to a crawl for miles and forcing millions of commuters to circle downtown looking for a way to work.
(snip)

Lopez Obrador called for the 5-mile blockade at a demonstration of more than 500,000 supporters Sunday. He spent the night in a tent in the city's main Zocalo plaza. Thousands of his supporters hung protest banners from sculptures and pitched their own tents in the middle of Mexico City's historic, tree-lined Reforma boulevard.

Mexico City Mayor Alejandro Encinas, a member of Lopez Obrador's Democratic Revolution Party, said Monday his government wouldn't forcibly remove the protesters. President Vicente Fox's spokesman, Ruben Aguilar, said the federal authorities wouldn't step in, unless the city government requested their help.
(snip)

Elio Mendoza, 49, a government employee, camped in a plastic tent without sleeping bags or blankets. Jubilant, he said sleep was the last thing on his mind.

"Sleep? The people have been asleep for too long," Mendoza said. "Today, we're happy, because the people have awoken."
(snip/...)

http://www.niagara-gazette.com/feeds/apcontent/apstories/apstorysection/D8J71V4G0.xml.txt/resources_apstoryview

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

7. "Rightist" candidate not mentioned.

Hmm.

:freak:

[Judi Lynn]

6. Protesters bring Mexico City to a crawl

July 31, 2006, 2:31PM
Protesters bring Mexico City to a crawl

By MARK STEVENSON Associated Press Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press



A man crosses the main Reforma Avenue in front of tents set up by supporters of Mexican presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in Mexico City, Mexico on Monday, July 31, 2006. Hanging protest banners from sculptures and pitching tents in the middle of Mexico City's historic Reforma boulevard, supporters of the country's leftist presidential candidate paralyzed the city's


MEXICO CITY — Supporters of Mexico's leftist presidential candidate brought rush-hour traffic to a crawl Monday, causing the stock market to drop and forcing office workers dressed in business suits and high heels to hike for miles to work.

The sprawling tent cities in the financial heart of the Mexican capital were another sign that Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and his supporters won't accept anything less than victory from the top electoral court.

The tribunal is weighing allegations that fraud gave ruling party candidate Felipe Calderon a slight advantage in the July 2 election. It has until Sept. 6 to declare a president-elect or annul the elections.

Lopez Obrador is demanding a vote-for-vote recount, and has vowed to block the city center until the Federal Electoral Tribunal rules on his request.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/4084208.html

(What are the chances a woman walking to work wouldn't bring an extra pair of "comfortable" shoes and NOT walk for miles in her high heels? Sounds dramatic if you're playing to the half-wit idiot readers, but it's so doubtful!)

[coalition_unwilling]

8. Yeah, the revolution starts now (with apologies to Steve

Earle). This is what a revolution looks like. Main question now is which way the army and security services will break. Any observers out there care to speculate?

[IndyOp]

13. Lopez Obrador's supporters say he is their Martin Luther King...

And this is the Third Mexican Revolution - the one that will create democracy in Mexico and end the oligarchy. The army and security services - the foot soldiers, especially - come from the masses. They know the truth.

I think they will back Lopez Obrador = the people.

:applause:

[MisterP]

9. looks like the spirit of '85 returning

like the Mexico City earthquake aftermath: the technocrats under de la Madrid used the police and military to prevent people from self-organizing, causing many more unneccesary deaths

[adriennui]

19. let's hope it isn't a repeat of 1968

the policia are corrupt and not particularly well-trained. please let this remain peaceful.

[Judi Lynn]

10. Protesters Bring Mexico City To A Crawl

Protesters Bring Mexico City To A Crawl

POSTED: 3:34 pm EDT July 31, 2006
UPDATED: 3:34 pm EDT July 31, 2006



AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini
A man crosses the main Reforma Avenue in front of tents set up by supporters of Mexican presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in Mexico City, Mexico on Monday, July 31, 2006. Hanging protest banners from sculptures and pitching tents in the middle of Mexico City's historic Reforma boulevard, supporters of the country's leftist presidential candidate paralyzed the city's financial district Monday and refused to leave until the top electoral court rules on demands for a recount in the disputed race.

~snip~
"We'll stay here for as long as it takes, but we're not going to let them impose a president on us," said farmer Anacleto Garcia Martinez, 53, as he warmed his coffee on a wood-burning brazier set up beneath a tarp strung from the wrought-iron gate leading to Chapultepec Park.

With his broad mustache and a blanket hung over his shoulders, he resembled his ancestors, farmers-turned-soldiers in Mexico's 1910 revolution.

"We've got revolutionary blood," said fellow farmer Angel Campirano, 49, of the city's rural Milpa Alta district. "Farmers are being forced to sell off their land, and we are defending the land."
(snip)

Protesters included grandmothers, politicians, even housewives. Many were drawn by Lopez Obrador's promises to govern for the poor in a country where class divisions are ever prominent.

"A lot of us are not poor. A lot of us are doing this out of a desire for justice and equality," said Rebeca Garcia Guzman, a retired health care worker and middle-class mother.
(snip)

http://www.wral.com/apworldnews/9603364/detail.html

[Zorra]

20. "......we're not going to let them impose a president on us,"

Yeah, take it from us, amigo, don't let them impose a President on you. Many people here in the US just rolled over when a pResident was imposed upon us in 2000, and it was the worst mistake in American history.

The fascists destroyed our democracy, because the people allowed them to impose a pResident on the country.

So do whatever it takes to preserve your freedom, and do it now, because tomorrow will be too late.

Salud, Mexicanos.

[Generator]

11. This is the only news around that's happy

[Vidar]

12. Viva Obrador. A bit of good news today. Thanks

[cal04]

14. Thank you ! This is great

I'm amazed everytime I read and see pictures of how dedicated these people are
and he's right there with them

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

15. If only Kerry had had the balls to fight back like that.

A pity he found it so much easier to concede.

Nope, I'm NEVER forgiving him for that. Flame on.

[mom cat]

18. I worked my ass off in his campaign, a large part on his promice to

make every vote count. I don't trust him not to move the football again.

[Massacure]

16. Democracy is on the march.

:D

[ksilvas]

17. Always mexico first in history, canary in the coal mine.n/t

[Judi Lynn]

21. Protesters bring gridlock to capital

July 31, 2006, 11:34PM
THE MEXICO ELECTION
Protesters bring gridlock to capital
Lopez Obrador and his supporters say they're staying until judges order a full recount

By DUDLEY ALTHAUS
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

MEXICO CITY - Militants loyal to leftist presidential contender Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador threw up tents and blockaded streets in the center of Mexico's capital Monday, snarling traffic, disrupting business and forcing workers to walk many blocks, even miles, to their jobs.

Newspapers and the airwaves filled with condemnation from officials and citizens alike.

But Lopez Obrador and his followers say they're staying for as long as it takes to convince a tribunal of seven election judges to order a full recount of the July 2 vote.

"We recognize there is irritation, but the only ones who are really bothered by this are those with money," shrugged Rodolfo Caballero, a gray-haired Mexico City ward heeler from Lopez Obrador's political party who manned a tent inthe city center's shopping district. "We're demanding that officials assume their responsibility."
(snip/...)

http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/world/4085561.html

[Judi Lynn]

22. Protests snarl Mexico City

Tuesday, August 1, 2006 - Page updated at 12:00 AM
Protests snarl Mexico City
By Kevin Diaz and David Ovalle

McClatchy Newspapers

MEXICO CITY — Supporters of leftist presidential runner-up Andrés Manuel López Obrador blocked traffic and ground much of downtown Mexico City to a halt Monday as they set up a tent city along a two-mile stretch of a major commercial thoroughfare.
(snip)

City police made no attempt to interfere with the largely peaceful "permanent assembly," which López Obrador organized to press his demand for a recount in his narrow loss to conservative Felipe Calderón in the July 2 presidential election.

Calderón's camp accused Mexico City Mayor Alejandro Encinas of cooperating with the demonstrators and called for police to clear the demonstrators. But Encinas, a member of López Obrador's Party of the Democratic Revolution, or PRD, called for calm as he sought negotiations with the protest organizers.

"We're going to act with moderation and intelligence in confronting difficult times on the national political scene, with the understanding that this is a national problem, not just a problem for Mexico City," he said.

A spokesman for Mexican President Vicente Fox indicated that the PAN-led government wouldn't get involved unless the city requested its help.
(snip/...)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003166376_mexvote01.html

[TheLastMohican]

23. Gee, let me think

Bushy supported Ukraine orange revolution 2 years ago because that was "our son of a bitch" coming to power. Now it blows in his face, because the leader from the left ain't no friend to corporate Dubya.
Why aren't we seeing "freedom on the march" and "democracy should prevail" memos from Washington?

[krkaufman]

24. "leftist presidential runner-up"

New organizations haven't improved one iota in the 6 years since the US Pres. election was stolen from Al Gore.

It's my understanding that the Mexican election won't be official until August 31st, so there is currently no *official* winner -- or runner-up.

(And let's not even get into the "leftist" brand.)

[RCinBrooklyn]

25. This is really inspiring. Americans have no spine. e.g., 2000, 2004

[1932]

26. Thanks to Bread (fast food) and Circus (ESPN) of modern American life

we've been pacified to the point that we'll accept the deterioration of our democracy and, consequently, our society as the Republicans push for greater empire and greater polarization of wealth that will -- if they are successful -- topple our nation. Just like the Roman Empire.