To Heel Over Port Side without God, without Homeland, without Law: Antorcha Libertaria and his Journalistic Actions in the City of Veracruz (1919-1923)

Abstract

During the second decade of the 20th century, the city of Veracruz saw the birth of unions under the impetus of the anarcho-syndicalists, among whom were some who, forged in the social struggles of those years, formed the first group in the city under the imprint of anarchism in late 1919: Antorcha Libertaria (Libertarian Torch). From then until the end of the following decade, both the group itself and each of its members influenced, through their participation, the construction of unions and workers’ centers, strikes, collective actions and social movements. As part of their strategy, they created newspapers that went beyond their information and propaganda work and served as tactical devices, becoming examples of a social pedagogy that influenced unions and citizens. The following lines will deal with its brief history and the background of its members, its ideological influences, the conception, content and importance of its newspapers, and social participation.