On December 2, 2000 the day after the change of government in Mexico the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) declared an end to it's silence and announced it's decision to travel to Mexico City to speak in front of the Mexican Congress in support of the San Andres Accords. This silence was the result of the Mexican Government's refusal to ratify the San Andres Accords and the extensive military build-up in the Zapatista communities that began in 1995. The Silence of the Zapatistas documents the many non-violent protests organized by the Zapatista communities during this silence against the military presence in the Autonomous Municipality of San Pedro Michoacan.
