Protest Violence Against Oaxaca Teachers

MEDIA ADVISORY
California Teachers Association June 23, 2016
Protest Violence Against Oaxaca Teachers
‪#‎Oaxaca‬

Contact: Lysa Sassman at 916-813-2319 or Toby Spencer at 530-867-0594

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Local Educators Protest Slaughter of Teachers in Mexico
Outraged At June 21 Killings in Oaxaca, Protest

Educators, labor council members, Hispanic advocacy supporters will protest the June 21 killing of unarmed teachers in Oaxaca, Mexico

NATOMAS – Outraged by the killing of nine teachers, educators say they will protest at the Mexican Consulate in Sacramento tomorrow (Friday) afternoon. Reports indicate nine teachers were executed, 23 disappeared, 21 were arrested, and more than 100 civilians, police and bystanders were injured June 21 in Nochixtlán, located in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca.

“I’m an education advocate and have demonstrated, protested and spoken out,” said Lysa Sassman, Auburn Union Teacher’s Association and one of the event organizers. “Never once did I think I’d lose my life over it. These teachers are my colleagues; they just live in a different country.”

Sassman and Toby Spencer, San Juan Teachers Association, have taken to social media to publicize the event and to share what’s happening to teaching colleagues in Mexico. “This is not just about privatization,” Spencer said. “The ‘education reform’ movement is an effort to remove teachers from rural and indigenous areas. We must stand with teachers and against violence in the Americas.”