Zapatistas Mark 30th Anniversary Amid Challenges

Movement Dissolves 'Autonomous Municipalities' Amid Gang Violence, Faces Erosion of Support

The Zapatista indigenous rebel movement marked the 30th anniversary of their uprising in southern Mexico, with hundreds gathering in the remote community of Dolores Hidalgo.
Subcommander Moises called for the Zapatistas to continue organizing themselves to maintain their autonomy, freedom, and democracy.
In November, the Zapatistas decided to dissolve the 'autonomous municipalities' they had established, citing waves of gang violence in the area of Chiapas that borders Guatemala.
Support for the Zapatista movement has eroded over time, with younger generations not carrying the same convictions to maintain the struggle.
Despite challenges, the Zapatistas have been lauded for their contributions to Mexico’s democratization and achieving a level of autonomy and recognition for Mexico’s Indigenous peoples that hadn’t existed before.