Oaxacan teachers have emphasized the need to end the corruption of government officials who are making empty promises and withholding funds from education. The Sacramento Central Labor Council and the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement jointly hosted a dinner sponsored by the Los Rios Community Federation of Teachers to raise funds for the Oaxacan teachers to help them in their fight. They are asking for support from everyone in the community, not just from certain groups and or organizations, to raise funds for the Oaxacan Teachers to help them in their struggle.

Murakami sent a campuswide memo on the subject on the second day of semester, asking for support on and off campus for the Oaxacan fundraiser.

“Los Rios Community Federation of Teachers (LRCFT) is sponsoring a fund-raiser for the striking Oaxacan teachers,” Murkami said in the memo. “[And] their fight for access to education for all children speaking against corrupt government officials, and stopping privatization of schools. We had the opportunity to meet with one of the Oaxacan teachers who is

hiding in Sacramento along with his family and are in extreme fear for their lives.”

“This is why we trying to help the striking Oaxacan Teachers and they are asking for your support.”

125 million people live in Latin America on an estimated $4.00 per day average. That comes out to about $24.00 weekly. The teachers themselves make around $130.00 a week.

Mexico is the second most populous country and faces serious poverty and income issues. 9.9 percent of the population (10.3 million) live on less $2.00 per day and 10.5 million people (10.1 percent) of the population live below the national poverty line.

Mexico is listed 53rd on the human development index.

Murakami has invited not only the teachers, but also the general public to be a part of the fundraiser.

Al Rojas, national coordinator of the Sacramento Central Labor Union, said that along with himself, others in the community are trying to gather and find support for the Oaxacan Teachers Union.

Right now they have 1.5 million members in the union. 80,000 of those members are Oaxacan teachers.

The Oaxacan teachers have been on strike for six months —all under the constant harassment of the federal police who have resorted to arresting individuals and even, it is reported, gone as far as killing the teacher for their protest. Numerous leaders from these organized groups participating in the protests with teachers and community members are trying to reform not only the teachers union, but also the Mexican government.

They are making several demands for improved transportation, food and health. They are also asking for modern schools to be built for the children.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has funded and or grants $25,000 to the Department of Education. The government is in the middle of trying to privatize the schools down in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Oaxaca, Mexico, is located on the southern tip of Mexico and is one of many very poor communities in that region. It is estimated that about 12 million Latino immigrants in the United States left Mexico to escape the poor economy; the government encourages this form of remittance because the immigrants end up sending U.S. currency back to their families.

The fundraiser was held on Saturday Jan. 27. At press time, information was not available as to the amount of money raised.