Emiliano Zapata - La Peñita de Jaltemba, Nayarit, Mexico
Posted by: 
Metro2
N 21° 02.330 W 105° 14.831
13Q E 474317 N 2326465
Emiliano Zapata was a key figure in the Mexican Revolution.
Waymark Code: WMJTE0
Location: Nayarit, Mexico
Date Posted: 12/29/2013
Views: 2
This bust of Zapata is at the foot of Avenida Zapata in the small beach town of La Peñita de Jaltemba...a few miles from Puerta Vallarta. it is covered by a little portico and depicts him larger than life-sized, painted in a goldish color, with coat and tie and a serious appearance. Unfortunately there is no sign at the site indicating the artist or date.
Wikipedia (
visit link) informs us:
"Emiliano Zapata Salazar ...8 August 1879 – 10 April 1919) was a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution, which broke out in 1910, and which was initially directed against the president Porfirio Díaz. He formed and commanded an important revolutionary force, the Liberation Army of the South, during the Mexican Revolution. Followers of Zapata were known as Zapatistas. He is a figure from the Mexican Revolution era who is still revered today...
The 1910 Revolution
At this time, Porfirio Díaz was being threatened by the candidacy of Francisco I. Madero. Zapata, seeing an opportunity to promote land reform in Mexico, made quiet alliances with Madero, whom he perceived to be the best chance for genuine change in the country. Although he was wary about Madero, Zapata cooperated with him when Madero made vague promises about land reform. Land reform would be the only issue which Zapata cared about.
Zapata joined Madero's campaign against President Diaz. When Zapata's army captured Cuautla after a six-day battle on May 19, 1911, it became clear that Diaz would not hold on to power for long. With the support of Pancho Villa, Pascual Orozco, Emiliano Zapata, and rebellious peasants, Madero overthrew Díaz in May 1911 at the Battle of Ciudad Juárez. A provisional government was formed under Francisco León de la Barra. Under Madero, some new land reforms were carried out and elections were to be ensured. However, Zapata was dissatisfied with Madero's stance on land reform, which Madero did not really believe in, and was unable, despite repeated efforts, to make him understand the importance of the issue or to get him to act on it."