The Spirit of Emiliano Zapata

By A. Govea

Most people today recognize the iconic images of Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa, yet many cannot distinguish one from the other. It’s understandable—both men became legendary figures of the Mexican Revolution, celebrated in Mexico but less familiar to many in the United States.

Pancho Villa, for example, was once considered an enemy of the U.S. after his 1916 raid on Columbus, New Mexico. Villa believed he had been betrayed when the U.S. government recognized his political rival, Venustiano Carranza, as Mexico’s legitimate leader and cut off supplies to Villa’s forces. Pero Villa’s story is one for another day.

Emiliano Zapata Salazar was born on August 8, 1879, in the state of Morelos. From a young age, he saw clearly the divide between the wealthy and the poor—and he did not like what he saw. Large hacienda owners monopolized land and water resources, especially for sugar cane production, leaving peasant communities with nothing.

Their greed and repression pushed many to revolt and form alliances with local leaders. Zapata’s movement became known as the Liberation Army of the South, united by a simple but powerful demand: “Tierra y Libertad” — Land and Liberty.

At the root of the injustice stood President Porfirio Díaz, born September 15, 1830, in Oaxaca. Díaz ruled Mexico from 1877 to 1880 and again from 1884 to 1911—over thirty years of centralized, authoritarian control. His administration was known not for public improvements but for suppressing dissent. Historians note that nearly all public officials answered directly to him, the legislature was filled with his allies, and the press was silenced.

Sound familiar? Although this is not 1910, the era of the Mexican Revolution, it reminds us that meaningful change requires collective action. And today, many in our community feel hunted and targeted under the Trump administration. I wish that were an exaggeration, but it is not.

The wealthy continue to benefit from tax policies tailored to the top 2%. Meanwhile, the conflict in Iran—often referred to as “The Trump war of choice”—has cost the lives of at least 21 American service members, with many more injured. On the other side, thousands have died, including civilians and at least 200 children. Reports of low morale among U.S. troops have surfaced, with some even abandoning their posts.

Beyond the human cost, the financial burden is staggering—estimated between $890 million and $2 billion per day. These expenses fall on American taxpayers already strained by tariffs and rising costs.

Prices for fuel, groceries, interest rates, and nearly everything in between has climbed. Many Americans have reached a breaking point. Economically, things must change or much may be lost.

Fortunately, for most of us who are not in the top 2%, the November ballot box holds the key to change. Will the spirit of Zapata carry us to victory? I believe it will—because the needs of the many must outweigh the desires of the few.

(Note from Author, this article on print edition is slightly different as wrong version published, I apologize for the error)