Tuesday, April 19 was an International Day of
Solidarity with the Bolivarian Revolution, with
actions taking place in 40 countries spanning
four continents.
This international day of action was called
in response one of the most recent U.S.
government attacks on Venezuela. In March
2016, U.S. President Obama renewed Executive
Order declaring Venezuela an, “unusual and
extraordinary threat to the national security
of the United States” and paving the way for
continued U.S. sanctions.
At demonstrations from Canada, U.S.,
and Mexico to Europe and Lebanon to
the streets of Venezuela, supporters of the
Bolivarian Revolution also joined in a social
media campaign using the Twitter hashtag
#SomosRevolucionBolivariana (We are the
Bolivarian Revolution). Across
Canada, solidarity actions were
also held in Vancouver, Ottawa,
Montreal, Quebec City, and
Toronto.
The solidarity action in Vancouver
was organized by the Fire This Time
Venezuela Solidarity Campaign
with the support of the Venezuelan
Consulate in Vancouver. The
Venezuela Solidarity Campaign
organized two events on April 19,
a protest at the U.S. Consulate
demanding “U.S. Hands Off
Venezuela!” followed by info tabling
and petitioning against U.S. and
imperialist intervention in Venezuela at the
downtown Vancouver Art Gallery.
Kelly White, Coast Salish Elder and supportor
of Venezuela opened the program with
words and a song of solidarity against U.S.
intervention. Then, in between rounds of
chanting and marching in front of the U.S.
Consulate, Vancouver participants heard from a
variety of speakers against Western intervention
in Venezuela. This included Azza Rojbi, who
spoke from Vancouver’s antiwar coalition
Mobilization Against War and Occupation
(MAWO), as well as Tamara Hansen, the chair
of Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with
Venezuela (VCSC) who read aloud a letter of
solidarity with the Bolivarian Revolution sent
as part of the April 19 Day of Action. This
protest at the U.S. Consulate, was also the 5th
consecutive monthly protest organized by the
Venezuela Solidarity Campaign at the U.S.
Consulate.
Following the protest supporters of the
Bolivarian Revolution took the action down the
street to a busy plaza in front of the Vancouver
Art Gallery. Here, the Fire This Time
Venezuela Solidarity Campaign was joined by
members of the Venezuelan Consulate as we
as the Hugo Chavez Peoples Defense Front –
Southwest Chapter. Over the next few hours,
participants invited people passing by to get
more information about Venezuela as well as to
sign the petition calling for an end to imperialist
intervention in Venezuela.
In addition to information about the Bolivarian
Revolution and its gigantic social, economic
and political gains, the tables also included an
art display describing the April 11 attempted
coup in Venezuela and the popular uprising
of Venezuelan people that returned President
Chavez to power less than 48 hours later.
April 19 is also a significant day in Venezuelan
history as it marks the anniversary of the “Cry
for Independence” and the signing of the “Act
of Independence,” 206 years ago, in 1810.
Fire This Time invites you to join the Fire This
Time’s Venezuela Solidarity Campaign in the
streets of Vancouver, Canada to defend the
Bolivarian Revolution and demand:
> OBAMA REPEAL THE DECREE NOW!
> U.S. HANDS OFF VENEZUELA!
> U.S. RESPECT THE SOVEREIGNTY
AND SELF-DETERMINATION OF THE
VENEZUELAN PEOPLE!
> LONG LIVE THE VENEZUELAN
BOLIVARIAN REVOLUTION!
Follow Alison Bodine on Twitter:
@alisoncolette
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