For those of you who haven't already heard, political prisoner Felipe Sánchez Rodríguez was released from prison on Wednesday last week, along with six other people that had also been arbitrarily detained on November 25 last year! We believe that international pressure on the federal government and the Oaxacan government likely played a role in those prisoners' release… Many thanks to all of you that have shown your solidarity and have called or sent faxes, letters, e-mails demanding that the government of Ulises Ruiz immediately cease the repression and ongoing human rights violations, and release all political prisoners in Oaxaca.



Felipe was the first person profiled in the Oaxaca Solidarity Network/EDUCA "Los Olvidados" ("The forgotten ones") urgent action campaign to get the remaining political prisoners freed. He is the founder of Calpulli, a non-profit organization that provides education and empowerment workshops to children from very poor communities in Oaxaca. We attended a very heart-warming welcome party for Felipe on Saturday. We're very happy to see this caring, committed man free, and we thank all of you that participated in our urgent action campaign demanding his release.



We'll be working with Felipe, EDUCA, others—and you—to pressure the government to release the remaining 51 political prisoners immediately. We'll be sending out profiles of other political prisoners regularly until all are freed, and we'd appreciate your continued support and solidarity . Your participation in our urgent action campaign CAN make a difference…!



More good news…

The International Women's Day march on Thursday last week, organized by Coordinadora de Mujeres Oaxa queñas (COMO), was a big success! Some 80-90,000 people participated—more than any march since the massive, arbitrary detentions of November 25 last year by the Federal Preventative Police (PFP) here in Oaxaca. Government-sponsored agitators ("porros") attempted to incite violence, and the march halted for 15 minutes—but members of APPO (Popular Movement of the People of Oaxaca) security forces managed to push the "porros" away from the march, which continued peacefully. The size of the march is clear evidence that the non-violent popular movement is strong in spite of the past and ongoing repression, and continues in its commitment to demand meaningful reforms to economic and political systems so that the rights of all Oaxacans to dignified and hopeful lives are guaranteed.



In solidarity,

Jacob and Eva

Oaxaca Solidarity Network info@oaxacasolidarity.org>

http://www.oaxacasolidarity.org/

U.S. phone: 303-800-4453