I hear all kinds of arguments about what’s wrong with schools and the sentiments tend to avoid the keys to what’s essential in the creation of a learning environment: an understanding of “who” the person is who’s being educated. And nothing gets at “who” a child, a student, is more than an educator who respects and appreciates that person’s culture and gives him or her an education that’s rich in the arts.

This past May 2nd José Luis Solís López (known as Galeano) was assassinated by members of the paramilitary group CIOAC-Histórica while defending the autonomous school and health car clinic near the Zapatista caracol of La Realidad. This Spanish language video by the independent media collective Masde131 shows footage of the teacher Galeano reading the parting message of the Escuelita, “Freedom according to the Zapatistas”, during the closing of its first round in August 2013.

Is it really possible that anyone would consciously plan the murder of a teacher and the destruction of a Zapatista school, health clinic, and water system? How can it be that politicians, governments, or special interests are still attacking tiny Mayan communities after these communities have spent twenty years peacefully focused on education, health, ecological agriculture, and women’s empowerment? And finally, why isn’t the “official story” – a tale of simple inter-community conflicts – credible in the case of the assination of the teacher Galeano and the distruction of La Realidad’s school, health clinic, and water system. During this week of demanding Justice for

Galeano, a Zapatista teacher, was murdered on May 2, 2014 while defending a community school in Chiapas, Mexico. Because of this horrific attack near the Zapatista caracol of La Realidad which left 15 other Zaptistas hospitalized (learn more details here), people of conscience everywhere are publicly standing with the Zapatistas. Schools for Chiapas is offering the following graphics for free use by everyone. Please download this image and share the photo of the murdered teacher Galeano far and wide. Also, be sure to sign and join the Call for Action in Support of the Zapatistas at http://www.anattackonusall.org Below are four

Dozens of intellectuals, artists, activists, and organizations have issued a “Call to Action in Support of the Zapatistas”. Schools for Chiapas believes the actions proposed in this call represent an important chance to avoid war in Chiapas, Mexico and urges people of conscience everywhere to sign today at www.anattackonusall.org and participate.