Under Sacanta’S Shadow

Life and Legends at Ground Level

Manifesto Confederacion de Trabjadores de Merxico El Roble, Sinaloa, Mexico May 2, 1938 Social, Political and Aesthetic Declaration from the Union of agricultural workers of Mexico to the indigenous races humiliated through centuries: to the soldiers converted into hangmen by their chiefs: to the workers and peasant who are oppressed by the rich: and to all those not servile to the rich and powerful. We stand with those who seek to overthrow this inhumane system within you, worker of the soil produce the riches for your overseers and corrupt politicians, while you starve. While you, the workers on the farm and mill create the harvest enjoyed by the parasites and prostitutes, while your own body is numb and cold. Within which you, Indian soldier, heroically abandon land and give your life in the eternal hope of liberating your race from the degradation and misery of centuries. Not only the noble labour but even the smallest manifestation of the materials and spiritual vitality of our race spring from our native midst. Its admirable, exceptional, and peculiar ability to endure the hardship of your poverty and unending abuse at the hand of you masters because it surges froth from the people: it is collective, and our social aim is to socialize your labours and to destroy forever bourgeois privilege. We, hereby proclaim that this being the moment of social transformation from the decrepit to a new order to a new birth of freedom for all that suffer under the heel of your oppressor. Cast off the chains of tyranny and be free. Gregorio Vasquez Moreno