Obrador and thousands setting up encampments until votes are counted

[seafan]

We have so much to learn from our southern brothers and sisters. They are showing us the way.


Protesting Along the Paseo


July 31, 2006 Supporters of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of the leftist Democratic Revolution Party, the runner-up in Mexico’s presidential election, hold a rally at Mexico City’s Zocalo.
(SUSANA GONZALEZ / AFP/Getty Images)


Mexico's Lopez Obrador calls on his supporters to set up camps on the capital's busy boulevard until a recount is ordered.

By Sam Enriquez, Times Staff Writer
July 31, 2006

MEXICO CITY — Runner-up presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador called on hundreds of thousands of supporters at a rally Sunday to set up encampments in the central square and along miles of the capital's most famous boulevard until a federal tribunal orders a recount of the July 2 election.
The popular leftist alleges that a conspiracy of government and big business steered the election to conservative Felipe Calderon, the unofficial winner by a margin of less than a percentage point.
"From the beginning we had signs of our victory and now, 28 days after the election, we have the certainty," said Lopez Obrador, standing in front of a two-story-high banner with the slogan of his campaign to force a recount: Vote by vote.

"Without a doubt," he said to cheers, "we have won the presidency."

Hours after the rally in downtown's central square, or Zocalo, tents began springing up on two major avenues through the capital. One of them, the 14-lane Paseo de la Reforma, was partially blocked for miles by 8 p.m.
Lopez Obrador promised to live among the protesters in 47 encampments that sprouted Sunday along the heavily traveled Avenida Juarez and Paseo de la Reforma, a Parisian-style boulevard of ritzy hotels, the U.S. Embassy, government offices, and roundabouts that circle statues of the Roman goddess Diana, Christopher Columbus and Mexico's Angel of Independence.
"All the camps must have discipline, respect and cleanliness," Lopez Obrador told the crowd, which approved the idea in a show of hands. "Let's take care of the gardens, the historic monuments. No graffiti on public spaces and avoid provocation. All of our acts will follow the idea of peaceful civil resistance, with no violence."

snip

Calderon, meanwhile, spent Sunday afternoon telling the seven judges of the Federal Electoral Tribunal that the election was won fair and square.

snip

....some statistical oddities — such as polling stations in strong Lopez Obrador districts tallying more votes for the Senate race than for president....
//snip
Sunday's rally, which city officials said drew 2 million people, had a party atmosphere, with food, music and souvenirs. Buses brought families from around the country.
But many also were angry. When asked, they scowled over low wages, the lousy prospects in their town and the idea, pushed by their leader, that a cadre of the rich and powerful may have decided the election for them.
"We can't get office jobs so we have to resort to selling on the street: cigarettes, popsicles. That's the only job for the poor," said Manuel Ortiz Garcia, 62. "Fox talks about 'A better Mexico,' but only for his family and his millionaire friends."

[Virginia Dare]

1. Absolutely awesome.. k&r .n/t

[John Q. Citizen]

2. Good for the freedom loving people of Mexico! No wonder our

right wingers hate them.

If Obrador prevents the theft of this election, the poor will have a shot at a decent life. And the US corporations/bushistas will have to find a different sources for slave labor.

[fordnut]

3. we need to like the mexicans in Noember

if for some reason the Repukes stay in power who agrees with
me?

[AmericasReporter]

4. Good for Mexico and Obrador

This is OUTSTANDING!!!!

I hope they get a recount and a new election!!!



START THE REVOLUTION
START THE IMPEACHMENT

[newyawker99]

9. Hi AmericasReporter!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[bullimiami]

5. virtually every story written carries anti amlo propaganda.

from the continued use of the term leftist, meant as a derogatory, to calling him runner-up and calling calderon the winner without honestly reporting how corrupt the election is but soft peddling it with terms like 'statistical oddities'.

[TlalocW]

6. I have been to the place in the photo

The zocalo or main plaza of Mexico City. The building in the background is the National Cathedral. To the right is the historical presidential palace (not in the shot). That is a huge area to fill. That's amazing.

I was there in 1994 taking a class through a college program. That was also an election year so there were various groups in the plaza, but nothing like that. That was the election where Zedillo (PRI) won it after taking the place of the first nominee (Colosio) who was killed either by members of his own party or organized crime because of the reforms that he wanted to institute.

TlalocW

[cal04]

7. Mexico leftists choke capital in vote protest

Thousands of protesters caused commuter chaos by closing off Mexico City's business district to traffic on Monday, pressing the main leftist candidate's demand for a vote recount in a presidential election he says was stolen from him

Launching a campaign of civil disobedience that raises the stakes in Mexico's political crisis, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's supporters seized control of the capital's imposing Zocalo square on Sunday night as well as a six-mile (10-km) stretch of the elegant Reforma boulevard.

They set up tents and huge tarpaulin covers in the middle of the wide, tree-lined avenue, cutting off all commuter traffic on Monday morning. The avenue is home to Mexico's stock market, many luxury hotels, government offices, headquarters of major corporations and the U.S. embassy.

The several thousand demonstrators did not close down buildings so workers were allowed into their offices, but the occupation caused long delays for many commuters. Some were furious.

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=1111572006


let's remember this at election time

[Vidar]

8. "Obrador promised to live among the protesters"--a real man of the people!