AP: Thousands march against governor in Mexico's Oaxaca

Thousands march against governor in Mexico's Oaxaca

The Associated Press
Published: February 3, 2007

OAXACA, Mexico: Tens of thousands of protesters marched to the center of Mexico's
historic southern city of Oaxaca on Saturday, showing that an eight-month-old movement
to oust the state governor is still alive despite hundreds of arrests.

Spraying graffiti calling Oaxaca state Gov. Ulises Ruiz a "murderer" and waving banners
calling for "Freedom for Political Prisoners," the demonstrators walked passed thousands
of police in riot gear guarding the city's central plaza. There were no immediate reports
of fighting or arrests.

The protesters, a mix of teachers, trade unions and assorted leftist and Indian groups,
are demanding the resignation of Ruiz, whom they accuse of rigging his 2004 election and
sending gangs of armed thugs to attack dissenters.

Official estimates of the crowd size were not available. But an Associated Press reporter
at the march estimated the number of protesters at about 20,000.

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