To achieve their demands High School students all over the country began protesting the new legislation by occupying their schools and blocking off highways outgoing to Nicaragua and El Salvador. They gained support from University students who joined in the occupation of their schools and their abstaining from attending classes in favor of taking to the streets. The students also have the support of the National Resistance Front, the Libre party, parents, teachers, and many religious organizations. Municipalities have begun taking matters into their own hands that involve community consultations (integrating the diverse body of protestors) to draft alternative forms of education and to discuss resistance.
Unfortunately it is extremely difficult to resist as there is rampant police brutality, their weapons once again funded by the U.S. military. Already several student leaders (mostly high-School age) have been killed and found in the streets, including a thirteen-year-old girl who drafted a viral poster protesting the new law that criticized the government for imposing extra costs of private education when remaining public schools don’t even have desks. Similar to Colombia, the media portrays the deaths as justified claiming victims are not children fighting for their rights but rather gang members involved in drug crimes. Students resist this misrepresentation by posting alternative news sources to youtube. The president warns protesting teachers that for one day of missed classes they will be punished with a year’s suspension, making it difficult for the most oppressed educators to join the struggle. The students’ struggle is ongoing.
Further Reading on PROHECO:
http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2011/sb120411.html
On protests:
http://desdeaquiabajoabajo.blogspot.com/2015/04/update-usaid-funding-education-in.html
http://www.emancipating-education-for-all.org/education_protests_honduras_aug2011
Unfortunately it is extremely difficult to resist as there is rampant police brutality, their weapons once again funded by the U.S. military. Already several student leaders (mostly high-School age) have been killed and found in the streets, including a thirteen-year-old girl who drafted a viral poster protesting the new law that criticized the government for imposing extra costs of private education when remaining public schools don’t even have desks. Similar to Colombia, the media portrays the deaths as justified claiming victims are not children fighting for their rights but rather gang members involved in drug crimes. Students resist this misrepresentation by posting alternative news sources to youtube. The president warns protesting teachers that for one day of missed classes they will be punished with a year’s suspension, making it difficult for the most oppressed educators to join the struggle. The students’ struggle is ongoing.
Further Reading on PROHECO:
http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2011/sb120411.html
On protests:
http://desdeaquiabajoabajo.blogspot.com/2015/04/update-usaid-funding-education-in.html
http://www.emancipating-education-for-all.org/education_protests_honduras_aug2011
A brief and informative Newscast featuring voices of protesters in Honduras
On violence against demonstrators & more on the history of the coup and student repression
Poster made by 13 year old girl Nicole Soad criticizing the government's education Policies, she is later abducted and killed
March in In Tegucigalpa