The Centro Cultural de la Raza and San Diego City College’s Chicano/a department are hosting a conference on border issues and the Zapatista movement on Nov. 17. 

The binational conference, which will take place from 8-5:30 p.m., aims to raise awareness about the current challenges Zapatista communities in Mexico and borderland communities face.

“A combined effort of the Mexican army, paramilitaries, and cartels (but mainly the government), are using violence to eliminate and displace indigenous and Zapatista communities,” wrote Octavio Garcia, assistant professor in the Chicano/a Studies program at City College, in an email.

According to instagram and confirmed by Garcia, the conference will begin with a light breakfast from 8-9:30 a.m. and will continue in segments after a welcome and unceded Kumeyaay land acknowledgement.

The first segment will take place from 9:35-11 a.m. and will involve a Zapatista panel with Kristian Vásquez and Maritza Gerónimo from the Sexta Grietas del Norte, and San Diego State University Chicana and Chicano Studies professor Roberto Hernandez. 

The second segment is a small group workshop from 11:10 a.m. to 12:35 p.m. to develop a “manifesto/resolution/declaration” to stand in solidarity with Zapatista communities.

From 12:45-2:10 p.m., attendees will be able to enjoy lunch and a documentary and discussion of “Las Polinizadorxs.”

The last couple segments will include two musical shows and an artistic presentation. 

“We hope to educate the community about this in the collaborative spirit of Zapatismo and make a call to action,” wrote Garcia in the same email.