With each passing month, the United States, Canada or countries of the European Union announce another increase to brutal sanctions against Venezuela. As part of this, on March 19, 2018, U.S. President Trump issued an executive order increasing sanctions yet again “in light of recent actions taken by the Maduro regime to attempt to circumvent U.S. sanctions by issuing a digital currency.”
The United States government has also threatened Venezuela with military intervention, all while ramping up their efforts to drum up support for increasing intervention in Venezuela, especially from other Latin American and Caribbean countries. These actions have the objective of forcing the overthrow of the democratically elected President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, and reversing the gains that the Bolivarian revolutionary process has made for millions of poor, working and oppressed people in Venezuela.
As the sanctions, threats and intervention by imperialist countries in Venezuela have continued, so has the organizing of peace-loving people against it. Since December 2015, the Fire This Time Movement for Social Justice – Venezuela Solidarity Campaign has been organizing a monthly protest action to demand of “U.S. Hands Off Venezuela!” On Friday, April 6, supporters of Venezuela once again took their voices right up to the doorstep of the U.S. Consulate in downtown Vancouver. Through speakers, chanting, and marching, the energetic picket made sure that everyone passing by on the busy street knew about the criminal actions that the government of the U.S., Canada and their allies are taking against the people of Venezuela and their democratically elected government.
At the protest action, a recent victory for Venezuela solidarity in Canada was also announced. After receiving 582 (out of 500 required) signatures from across Canada, a Parliamentary petition demanding that the government of Canada end its threats and sanctions against Venezuela has been certified for presentation to the House of Commons. As per the rules of the House of Commons, it will be presented to Parliament sometime before the end of May 2018. (Read the text of the petition and get updates here: nosanctions.org). This petition demonstrates that there is support in Canada for an end to the government’s attacks on Venezuela, and many more people that can be appealed to join in actions to defend Venezuela’s right to sovereignty and self-determination.
On April 19 there was another action in Vancouver for Venezuela. This action was organized by the Hugo Chávez People´s Defense Front Southwest Canada Chapter to mark the 208 years since Venezuela’s struggle for independence began, as well as to show support in Vancouver for Venezuela’s upcoming Presidential elections, which will take place on May 20, 2018. The Fire This Time Venezuela Solidarity Campaign supported and participated and also spoke at this action, held in downtown Vancouver.
Every day, people in Venezuela are mobilizing in their schools, workplaces, communities and in the streets to defend the Bolivarian revolutionary process against Venezuela’s violent counter-revolutionary opposition and meddling by the U.S., Canada and their allies. As people living in Canada, which is supporting and participating in the imperialist campaign of sanction, threats and intervention, we have the responsibility to join them!
The Fire This Time Venezuela Solidarity Campaign will continue being out on the streets every month, protesting in front of the U.S. consulate demanding U.S./Canada hands off Venezuela! To join in the next event visit www.firethistime.net or follow on Facebook and Twitter @FTT_np
Follow Alison on Twitter: @alisoncolette
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