On September 11, 2019 U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced an escalation of war against Venezuela. Together with 10 other right-wing Latin American governments, the U.S. invoked the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (TIAR). The TIAR is a dangerous cold-war era mutual defense treaty which enables further U.S.-led intervention against the people of Venezuela.
This latest move comes after increasing U.S. sanctions, blockade and economic warfare have failed to topple the legitimate Venezuelan elected President Nicolás Maduro. While the Venezuelan people continue to stand in defense of their president and the Bolivarian revolution, U.S. sanctions have a brutal impact on the people of Venezuela. An April 2019 report by the Center for Economic and Policy research found that U.S. sanctions contributed to more than 40,000 deaths in Venezuela between 2017 – 2018. At the same time as the U.S. government is inflicting crippling sanctions on the Venezuelan people, the U.S. Trump administration is delivering a hefty $52 million paycheck to their puppet and self-proclaimed “interim president” of Venezuela Juan Guaido and the Venezuelan opposition, as announced by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on September 25, 2019.
In Vancouver, Canada, the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign of Fire This Time Movement for Social Justice is out on the streets every month, demanding U.S./Canada Hands off Venezuela! On October 4, activists came together for this monthly action starting with a picket action in front of the U.S. Consulate. Protesters raised their picket signs and voices to demand “U.S. Hands Off Venezuela!” and in between rounds of picketing, gathered to hear from local speakers. After gathering for a customary group photo in front of the U.S. Consulate building sign, the protest moved to the busy downtown Vancouver Robson Square. Passersby were attracted to the information table by banners and a huge Venezuelan flag, and many signed on to the petition demanding the government of Canada end its sanctions on Venezuela.
The FTT Venezuela Solidarity Campaign is committed to continuing these monthly protest actions and other events in defense of Venezuela and the Bolivarian revolution, until the U.S. and Canada end their sanctions and foreign intervention against Venezuela. To find out about upcoming events visit www.firethistime.net or follow on Facebook, on Twitter @FTT_np and on Instagram @FTT.Venezuela
Follow Janine Solanki on Twitter: @janinesolanki
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