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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