Supermodels to Take Oaxaca Protest to New York

Supermodels to Take Oaxaca Protest to New York

March 9, 2007
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Contact: Al Giordano narconews@gmail.com

- Supermodels to Take Oaxaca Protest to New York
- Opposition to Miss Universe Pageant in Monte Alban in May 2007
- Connor: "We models aren't cheap props for dictators"
- Auditions April 18 in New York City for a Protest with Poise Aimed at Donald Trump and NBC

The online newspaper Narco News – www.narconews.com - which has extensively reported from the Mexican state of Oaxaca – today announced its support for a new organization that will take Oaxaca's pro-democracy protests to New York City in April and May. The Popular Assembly of Models for Oaxaca (APMO, in its Spanish initials), also known as "Supermodels for Oaxaca," responded to Mexican press reports that the NY-based Miss Universe pageant is slated to hold its "regional costume" competition in May 2007 at the ancient indigenous ruins of Monte Alban overlooking Oaxaca city.

Spokesmodel and APMO director Cha-Cha Connor, author of the March 8 casting call on Narco News, wrote: "We supermodels won't let it happen."

Oaxaca, the majority indigenous state in southern Mexico, has been the scene of a growing movement to topple the regime of repressive and corrupt Governor Ulises Ruiz who took office in 2004 amid widespread evidence of electoral fraud. In 2006, the Ruiz regime imprisoned 522 social leaders and journalists, assassinating 22 of them , and torturing many more. Despite a three month occupation of the capital city by the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO, in its Spanish initials), international commercial media reports have been scarce, and dishonest.

Ms. Connor, a human rights investigator in Mexico during 2006 and 2007, and a professional fashion model, wrote on Narco News: "Last November, while documenting human rights abuses in Oaxaca – arbitrary detentions, beatings, rapes – I wondered: How could an end be put to a regime as brutal and ugly as that of Ulises Ruiz?"

As Mexican press reported that the Miss Universe pageant – owned by the Trump Organization and NBC – will be held in Mexico in May 2007, with events in Mexico City, Cancun, Cozumel and the pyramids of Monte Alban in Oaxaca, Ms. Connor recounted: "Imagine my shock when I read that the Miss Universe competition would hold its traditional costume competition this year in Oaxaca City, during the same month as the teachers' strike. I was horrified – how could Miss Universe support this dictator?"

The APMO – Supermodels for Oaxaca – was then born. Its casting call begins:

"Be a part of the most attractive picket protest in history!"

In a marked departure from most social protests, APMO will hold auditions for participants in its upcoming "runway picket line" in New York. The casting call published on Narco News sets the audition date for April 18, with a deadline for applications of March 31 to be sent to models@narconews.com

Narco News publisher Al Giordano, who agreed to serve as APMO's press secretary, said: "We've covered hundreds of social protests over the years and so many begin to look and sound alike. That is especially true of protests in the United States. And that's a problem because causes like that of Oaxaca have to be brought to the public's attention with more creativity or they don't work. But what the APMO models have planned for New York won't be easily ignored or marginalized. It will be, simply, the most irresistible event in the media capital of the world for the spring of 2007. We're thrilled to volunteer our labor to bring press attention to the event."

The APMO models plan on picketing the owners of Miss Universe in May in various parts of New York – and perhaps elsewhere. On Thursday the organization released sketches of designs for an APMO tiara and a tropy – the APPY award – by world renowned designer Latuff of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The award is not part of a beauty contest, though. It will go to "the creator of the most effective action to liberate Oaxaca from the dictatorship."

Read the APMO casting call at:

http://narconews.com/Issue45/article2575.html

(Also available in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Dutch and, soon, all the languages of the Miss Universe pageant.)

Printable version of casting call poster (two pages, .pdf):

http://narconews.com/docs/APMOcastingcall2.pdf

AUDITION IN NEW YORK CITY APRIL 18

To audition to be an APMO supermodel, please send at least 2 headshots, 2 full body photos and 2 photos of your choice, as well as a letter expressing your desires to audition, to Spokesmodel and Director Cha-Cha Connor at models@narconews.com. All photos should be professional and of you alone.

Photographers, hair and makeup stylists, fashion designers, personal trainers, manicurists and pedicurists, likewise send examples of your work along with a letter expressing your desire to volunteer in this project to Spokesmodel and Director Cha-Cha Connor at models@narconews.com.

Reporters, fashion magazine editors, theater and cinema directors, performance artists, paparazzi, voyeurs, gawkers, bodyguards and human rights observers, please contact Ms. Connor's Press Secretary Al Giordano at narconews@gmail.com.

ENDS

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