I received this press release (?) from a Duke listserve. I'm not sure if I ever met Santiago Rafael Cruz, but this is a brutal and sobering reminder that being a labor activist is still dangerous, whether or not capitalist interests were involved in this. I've heard that when FLOC first began operating in Monterrey a few years ago the American sent there first was harassed by the police, though in that case I think FLOC did not have an office and was operating at the City's main plaza I can't remember if organized crime was involved in those earlier problems. I was also told a Mexican communist group offered support, which of course they would, if they are true reds. I hope they catch the perpetrator(s) quickly and I offer my condolences to Cruz's family, friends, and FLOC.
FLOC Press Release
04/09/2007 Monterrey, Mexico — It is with pain and sadness that we
report the tragic murder of one of our Monterrey, Mexico office
staff-members, Santiago Rafael Cruz. We struggle to keep tragedies from
occurring in the fields, but it is equally painful to have them occur in
our work environment.
While we have no official police reports, friends who found the body
this morning in the FLOC Monterrey office said that he had been tied-up
and beaten to death.
FLOC has asked the National AFL-CIO and Congressman Marcy Kaptur's
office to request that our State Department press the Mexican Government
to conduct a thorough and speedy investigation to bring the perpetrators
to justice.
Since our breakthrough agreement in North Carolina in 2004, FLOC has had
to battle against anti-union hostility in the South's "right-to-work"
environment. We have put up with constant attacks in both the U.S. and
Mexico—including having our office burglarized and broken into several
times and a number of other attempted break-ins. Now the attacks have
come to this.
FLOC will respond to this attack in a disciplined but forceful manner at
the appropriate time. For now, we will focus on Santiago and his family
to make sure his body is returned home, and minister to those who loved him.
Santiago spent years defending his countrymen's rights in the U.S. and
Mexico. His life and service will be missed but not forgotten.
For further information please contact:
Baldemar Velasquez 419-297-7526
Leticia Zavala 919-394-7797
People wishing to donate money to help with transporting Santiago's body
home, his funeral, and other expenses can make a check payable to:
FLOC
C/O Santiago Tragedy Fund
1221 Broadway St
Toledo, OH 43609
report the tragic murder of one of our Monterrey, Mexico office
staff-members, Santiago Rafael Cruz. We struggle to keep tragedies from
occurring in the fields, but it is equally painful to have them occur in
our work environment.
While we have no official police reports, friends who found the body
this morning in the FLOC Monterrey office said that he had been tied-up
and beaten to death.
FLOC has asked the National AFL-CIO and Congressman Marcy Kaptur's
office to request that our State Department press the Mexican Government
to conduct a thorough and speedy investigation to bring the perpetrators
to justice.
Since our breakthrough agreement in North Carolina in 2004, FLOC has had
to battle against anti-union hostility in the South's "right-to-work"
environment. We have put up with constant attacks in both the U.S. and
Mexico—including having our office burglarized and broken into several
times and a number of other attempted break-ins. Now the attacks have
come to this.
FLOC will respond to this attack in a disciplined but forceful manner at
the appropriate time. For now, we will focus on Santiago and his family
to make sure his body is returned home, and minister to those who loved him.
Santiago spent years defending his countrymen's rights in the U.S. and
Mexico. His life and service will be missed but not forgotten.
For further information please contact:
Baldemar Velasquez 419-297-7526
Leticia Zavala 919-394-7797
People wishing to donate money to help with transporting Santiago's body
home, his funeral, and other expenses can make a check payable to:
FLOC
C/O Santiago Tragedy Fund
1221 Broadway St
Toledo, OH 43609
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