Virgin and Holy Boy of Barricades

Back in 2006, the preelectoral season and the emptiness of power ignited several confrontations with the teachers and the former PRI governor of Oaxaca. This movement was brutally repressed by the government on June 14th, almost 10 years ago.

Protect Us, Virgin of the Barricades

It was then, the APPO or Popular Assembly of Small Towns in Oaxaca was created as a way to demand new economic and social reforms in the region. They got organised amongst themselves and in a completely organic way, took over public radio and college TV stations, thus kept people in the population informed about the actions taken by the movement. After a few days, the government decided to destroy the antennas.

In response to these actions, on August 21st, 2006, twelve commercial radio stations were taken by the people that lived close by. These were simple men or women who worked on domestic affairs, cab drivers and small businesses that kept operating two of these stations day after day.

The government, far from impressed sent police forces to disappear and murder people on the streets. Again, the APPO movement tried to protect their people, or all the people in Oaxaca at that point, so they set up barricades, hundreds, lighting up the dark night. 

It was though these barricades and the radio station that people got together and informed about hot coffee taken to a certain point or about federal police harming some compañeros. It was through these two channels people united against brutal acts of violence. Yet another image started circulating as well, the image of a Virgin Mary wearing a gas mask, a barbed wire halo and burning tires around her: The Virgin of the Barricades.

Not long after that, the Holy Boy of Barricades appeared. Certain elements conform his identity: the Ché Guevara Communist star (sometimes on a beret or a drum), a slingshot, a paliacate (decorated handkerchief) covering it's face (identity as well) and a small supermarket cart with stones and flares by his side.

We come to you

because we are fed up

tired to move against the tide

and we need relief.

Holy Boy of Barricades

We have thirst of justice

this is what makes us go out to the streets

to burn reality on.

Holy Boy of Barricades

Keep us away from Evil

the bullets fly on the air above us

but our rage is stronger than fear.

Holy Boy of Barricades

Please don't allow

the bloodshed by our brothers

left unpunished.

Holy Boy of Barricades

glorify the memory 

of those who are on the street now

because they are fighting

don't let the indifference

reign to those that only look at us. 

Holy Boy of Barricades

let your gaze protect us always

because we are on the streets

tired of bullshit

and full of rage:

Keep us away from Evil.

Margarita Zires, a researcher whose interest is based on the Myths around the Guadalupe Virgin, the Religious Imaginaries and Political Action wrote about the Virgin and the Boy of the Barricades.

"The senses that this figure embraces are as follows: it's a symbol of faith through battle, of hope and unity of fortitude and spirit. These are the terms they use. Solidarity with those arrested, a way to express they are fighting and willing to defend."[source]

Hidalgo back in 1810, promoted our fight for Independence with the Guadalupe Virgin image by his side. Although I find these socio-religious actions extremely nocive, I've come to think, they are extraordinary when it comes as part of a regional movement that holds no partidary affiliation but becomes informally religious. It is as if an image with certain symbols makes sense to many when a sense of frustration, injustice and the direct attack from our government seems unabatable. When the unthinkable about reality needs to create an imaginary to hold it all together.