Bilingual Newsletter
Saúl Hernández of the Mexican Rock Band Jaguares, Fighting for Human Rights with Amnesty International
 
Listen to the full version of this interview (in Spanish) |
1. First of all, Saúl, how was this tour with the new album "Crónicas de un Laberinto"?
It has been a pleasant surprise, people have received us with open arms and the concerts were always full. People had a lot of energy, and apart from that, the band is at its best moment. It is a surprise for us to see that people already know the album and even sing along. They chant live songs; and what I have also noticed is that every time there is a larger English-speaking audience at the concerts, which means that the band’s door has always been open to break discrimination. And we realize that in our powerful micro world, which exists at our concerts, there really is equality of rights and race.
2. In this tour, Saúl is collaborating with Amnesty International to support the campaign to bring justice in Ciudad Juárez and Chihuahua. What motivated you to collaborate with Amnesty International?
Well, as of some time ago, we had already been raising awareness around Juárez cases. The Amnesty section in Mexico approached us because they realized that the band was worried about what was happening with femicide in Juárez. So, we started working together, hosting concerts together, and conducting more specific campaigns with Amnesty Mexico. Amnesty International saw the work we were doing together with the Mexican section, and we started working more in partnership with Amnesty International. The problem in Juárez is not just Mexico’s responsibility; what’s taking place there is a crisis of humanity.
3. Why do you think it is important to collaborate with Amnesty International?
Because Amnesty has achieved something that is extremely important: respect. Respect is the base of all these institutions that devote themselves to defending human rights and protect forgotten causes on behalf of all societies and governments. From my point of view, the credibility Amnesty has achieved all along these years is due to its actions, not to its fame or its image, but because of the things we have seen them do with the passing of time; and we consider this the most important.
4. As Latinos in the United States, we want to support this cause in order to put an end to the violence against women. What can we do to participate in, and support this movement?
Well, I think that one of the things we can do is to get closer to the issue. We have worked together with Amnesty International and through this we have attracted people. I think that this is one of the most important points, getting closer. After people get closer, there comes a very important point where there is civic education. Unfortunately, many of us do not have a civic education and do not realize all we can achieve when we know our rights and also start to exercise them. Thus, having done this work in the United States and Mexico, at the concerts people get closer and recognize their own territory. It is also an opportunity to educate ourselves, something we all need. And from there we can start spreading the word. I believe popular movements are much more powerful than any political party. And something I really hope is to see the creation of a fairly big group at the social level, so we can start fighting for our rights. In this case, in order to demand justice for Juárez, and also in many other situations, because there are many things left to do.
5. Saúl, on behalf of the entire band Jaguares, what motivates you to fight for a more just world, without violence and with more social justice?
Well, I think it is simply to open our eyes and see that things are going wrong. We cannot live with our eyes shut all the time. Not paying attention to the misfortunes people suffer around you; people that are close to you, next to you, in front of you or far away from you. Sometimes, in some way, injustice remains more powerful than justice. And that is the motivation, because we are human beings and are really concerned for the future of our children. We would like younger generations to have a clear basis for this struggle. The struggle continues day after day, and we cannot live with our arms crossed, without caring for what is happening to others. Because one day it can happen to you and you are not going to have anyone to help you. There is always someone that holds out his hand, isn’t there? And, as an Argentinean poet once said," I prefer to be wounded than asleep".
6. Do you have any projects for the future?
One is to finish the tour around the United States and Mexico. In October we are going to be in Spain, where we have been invited to a tribute to Lázaro Cárdenas, President of México, who opened the doors to all the Spanish civil war exiles when Franco came to power. It is a very important tribute because Lázaro Cárdenas, who at the moment of his presidency of the Mexican Republic followed many international treaties, fortunately ignored many other things. And he opened the doors of the country and a great part of the Spanish population came in. This saved their lives, because otherwise they would have been killed by Franco’s dictatorship. At the same time, we are going to begin a tour around Spain with other Spanish and Mexican artists as a tribute to Lázaro Cárdenas.
7. Finally Saúl, would you like to say something to inspire the Amnesty International activists that are listening to you?
There is a phrase that has had a profound impact on me since I read it:
“There are men that fight one day and are good; there are men that
fight one year and are better; there are men that fight many years and are
very good; and there are men that fight their whole lives and those are
the ones that make an impression.”