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      Fire This Time Venezuela Solidarity Campaign demands:
      Sovereignty & Self-Determination for Venezuela!


      By Janine Solanki

      On May 4, 2018, Venezuela supporters came together for a monthly protest in defense of Venezuela and their Bolivarian Revolution, organized by the Fire This Time Venezuela Solidarity Campaign. This action came at a particularly critical time, just three weeks before the May 20 Presidential elections in Venezuela. Since the Bolivarian Revolution started with the election of former President Hugo Chavez in 1999, the US government has been attempting to reverse the gains that the Bolivarian revolutionary process has made for millions of poor, working and oppressed people in Venezuela. This campaign also includes increasingly brutal sanctions, threats of military intervention and support and funding for Venezuela’s violent opposition.

      Despite months of the governments of the US and Canada calling for the Venezuelan government to hold elections, as soon as elections were called in Venezuela the US and Canada changed their tune. Before the elections had taken place the governments of the US and Canada were already condemning the elections as illegitimate and making it clear that they would not respect Venezuela’s sovereignty, and would not accept the results of the election if Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro was reelected.

      The May 4 monthly action started out with a picket action in front of the US Consulate in downtown Vancouver. With a large Venezuelan flag and signs reading “USA: Hands Off Venezuela!” and “No Regime Change in Venezuela!” protesters gathered to hear local speakers in between rounds of energetic picketing and chanting. After a group photo with picket signs held up defiantly under the sign of the US Consulate, the protesters continued to the second part of the action, which was at the busy downtown plaza in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery. The Venezuela Solidarity Campaign set up an information table and passers-by were attracted by the large Venezuelan flag and picket signs to come by and talk to organizers. Activists also approached people walking by to sign the petition demanding that the government of Canada end their sanctions and threats against Venezuela.

      Later in the month on May 17, another protest was held in defense of Venezuela, organized by the Hugo Chávez People´s Defense Front Southwest Canada Chapter. With a large banner reading “US/Canada Hands Off Venezuela!” the Fire This Time Venezuela Solidarity Campaign joined to support and participate in this action, held just a few days before the Venezuelan elections. Here in Vancouver, actions are continuing to defend Venezuela’s right to self-determination and to support the Bolivarian Revolution. Find out about upcoming events at www.firethistime.net or follow on Facebook and Twitter @FTT_np

      Janine Solanki on Twitter: @janinesolanki



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