Emiliano Zapata Salazar became a leading figure in the Mexican
Revolution of 1910-1920, the main leader of
the people's
revolution in the Mexican state of Morelos, and the inspiration of the agrarian movement called
Zapatismo. Zapata remains an iconic figure in
Mexico, used as a symbol of the neo-
Zapatista movement, and his influence continues to this day, particularly in
revolutionary tendencies in southern
Mexico.
Many popular organizations take their name from Zapata, most notably the
Zapatista Army of National Liberation (Ejército
Zapatista de Liberación Nacional or
EZLN in Spanish), the Neozapatismo group that emerged in the state of
Chiapas in 1983 and precipitated the
… Read more 1994
indigenous Zapatista uprising which still continues in
Chiapas. Towns, streets, and
housing developments called "
Emiliano Zapata" are common across the country.
Modern activists in
Mexico frequently make reference to Zapata in their campaigns; his image is commonly seen on banners, and many chants invoke his name: Si Zapata viviera con nosotros anduviera ("If Zapata lived, he would walk with us"), and Zapata vive, la lucha sigue ("Zapata lives; the struggle continues").
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