As many of you may already know, activist, journalist and Rainforest Relief friend Brad Will, was gunned down in Oaxaca, Mexico last Friday, while reporting on the ongoing people's struggle there for autonomy and direct democracy. Brad was active in numerous struggles both locally and internationally, for many years. One couldn't have been a part of the NYC activist community and not have known Brad — he was everywhere, from squats in the Lower East Side to climb trainings for RR banner hangs, to Reverend Billy's anti-consumption rallies.

I last saw Brad when he showed up just prior to a Victoria's Secret demonstration a few months ago and helped me get into the Manhattan Mall with 40 helium balloons attached to a banner. Unfortunately, security caught us with the banner and we never got to launch it but we used it outside to it's full potential. We had an excellent action, and Brad hung with us until the end, when he borrowed my camera to take a few great shots of some of the activists celebrating post-action. He had become a great videographer and had a real eye for the good shot.

Brad was an amazing activist and managed to insert himself into the hottest spots with relish and abandon. There's much I had hoped to still learn from him. We will all miss him terribly.

In response to our grief and anger, Brad's friends and comrades organized a vigil Saturday night at the Mexican Consulate and then a very large demonstration on Monday morning, October 30th. This demo involved Tim Doody, long-time Rainforest Relief volunteer, scaling a light post in front of the consulate to unfurl a banner that had an image of Brad with the quote "One More Night on the Barricades" — a reference to Brad's last post from Oaxaca; Joan Roney, another past RR volunteer and board member, locking to one door; and Tim Keating, RR director, locking to the front gate.

The gate was lifted off its hinges by a security guard after I was locked to it (very scary) and my support person managed to lift the gate and wedge it horizontally across the entrance, making for quite a visual (see the photos and videos in the links below). The demonstration nearly became a riot as police reacted violently to protesters rushing the front doors (as I tried to close the gate to lock to it). This led to a number of clashes between police and demonstrators, who were venting their frustration and grief as they attempted to enter/shut down the consulate.

Later, numerous other protesters laid down in front of traffic and got arrested or got nabbed for refusing to move or whatever else the police decided was against their law.

Unfortunately, Brad's death has already been used as a reason for the Mexican government to send federal troops into Oaxaca.

But Brad's death and the death of other demonstrators in Oaxaca prompted the Mexican Congress to vote to call for the governor of Oaxaca state, Ulises Ruiz, to resign — which is what the protesters there have been calling for for the five months since the barricades went up. But with the federal troops being sent in, it seems that things in Oaxaca may get worse before they get better.

Ruiz did not resign and finished his term, which now allows him to choose his predecessor, sure to be from the same party, the PRI, that has been perpetrating the violence.

As well, a new president has been sworn in, Felipe Calderon, who is a conservative. The election results have been contested by the opposing candidate, a member of the PRD party. Those in Oaxaca (and throughout Mexico) have opposed Calderon and many have sworn to continue the protests.

For stories about Brad's murder, go to The New York Times and The Villager.

For stories on the action at the Mexican Consulate, go to NYC Indymedia and Narconews.

For photos of the action, go to Erin Siegel's site and NYC Indymedia.

For videos of the action, go to Let Them Talk.

We will continue to monitor events in Oaxaca and NYC activists will undoubtedly continue to organize around this issue — in honor of Brad's commitment and sacrifice and in honor of the cause of direct democracy for the people in Oaxaca to which he gave his life.

To get involved in actions in solidarity with the people of Oaxaca and other causes into which Brad poured his heart and soul, go to Friends of Brad Will.