The Committee of Indigenous Solidarity/DC Zapatistas (CIS/DC Zaps) is a D.C. area based organization working in solidarity with the Native American struggle in Chiapas, Mexico. At the behest of the Zapatistas, and unlike traditional "solidarity" organizations in the past, we try to provide support for their struggle in a grassroots, bi-directional manner and by working to build Zapatismo right here in our own city and region.

We have been in existence for about 7 years and have worked on a number of Chiapas, U.S., and Indigenous-oriented projects. We work in coalition with many other U.S.-based organizations, and our local membership is open to all. We have a number of ongoing projects, including development of a local Zapatista political base, outreach to local communities in struggle, an 'hermaniamiento' with an autonomous community in Chiapas, dissemination of the 'Mexico Week in Review' electronic newsletter, and as a DC area source of information and e-mail discussion for events in Chiapas and other resistance hot-spots. Long term, we are developing the vision for the establishment of a Zapatista community center. Short term, we are looking forward to the creation of our first Zapatista youth group.

e have found that as the years have passed, some progressive forces in the U.S. seem to have lost some of their initial enthusiasm for the Zapatista struggle -- This as the day-to-day work of building Autonomous Communities in Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Guerrero continues, and as the attacks on these communities by mul-tiple free trade agreements, mega development projects, militarization, political persecution and paramilitary assaults intensify. The reasons for the Zapatista struggle in Mexico have clearly not disappeared.

Autonomous peoples in Mexico and around the world continue to be threatened by the forces of international neoliberalism. Zapatistas in Mexico have continued their struggle against these forces with solid determination. So must DC Zapatistas continue our struggle with that same commitment, not only to support the struggle of our Mexican compa–eros and compa–eras, but also to establish the Zapatista principles of dignity, justice, respect, inclusiveness, equality and collective decision making in our neighborhoods, organizations, workplaces, union halls, families, schools and churches.

CIS has regular meetings. Please join us, and help us build Zapatismo.

For more information or to join our electronic discussion group, please contact us at: cis-dcz@riseup.net