For over 17 years, the United States government has been sanctioning and blockading Venezuela, with the aim of inflicting economic hardship on the Venezuelan people and fomenting “regime change.” Venezuela’s crime? The Bolivarian Revolution has defied U.S. hegemony and is instead developing their society to benefit poor, working and historically oppressed people in Venezuela.
Part of the U.S. economic war against Venezuela is through seizing Venezuela’s assets and bank accounts internationally, including $1.5 Billion U.S. Dollars that have been frozen in Portugal’s Novo Banco since 2019. In a huge victory for Venezuela and a step forward for justice, Venezuela’s government won a court case and can now access its funds. This constitutes a clear victory of the Venezuelan people against the strategy promoted by U.S. imperialists and their allies to appropriate the country’s resources and cause suffering to the population.
Solidarity Activists Demand U.S./ Canada Hands Off Venezuela!
The Fire This Time Movement for Social Justice Venezuela Solidarity Campaign is encouraging Venezuela supporters to sign a new postcard campaign! The “Free Alex Saab!” postcard campaign demands freedom for Alex Saab, a Venezuelan diplomat currently held in a Miami jail. Alex Saab was kidnapped at the command of the U.S. government while stopping in Cape Verde en route to Iran to negotiate a trade deal, to alleviate the effects of U.S. sanctions. Alex Saab was illegally extracted to the U.S. and is still unjustly held in a Miami jail. This postcard campaign aims to flood the White House with postcards demanding freedom for Alex Saab. This new postcard campaign is also a public education campaign, and supporters are encouraged to take selfies while mailing the cards to share on social media and to hand them out at actions and events. For more information and to participate in the campaign, send an email to fttvenezuelasolidarity@gmail.com or call/message +1-604-518-7361. To read more about the case of Alex Saab, turn to page 15.
On July 25, the latest virtual picket action was held demanding “U.S./Canada Hands Off Venezuela! End Sanctions of Venezuela! Free Alex Saab! For over two years, Fire This Time Movement for Social Justice Venezuela Solidarity Campaign, the Venezuela Peace Committee in Winnipeg, and Just Peace Advocates have organized monthly online picket actions in defence of Venezuela, demanding an end to U.S./Canada sanctions and freedom for Alex Saab.
On July 19, another important webinar was held, titled “Defending Our Movements Against U.S. Government Attacks on Civil Liberties and Democratic Rights,” organized by the United National Antiwar Coalition. This webinar highlighted a number of political prisoner cases and the importance of exercising and expanding our human and democratic rights. One of the speakers was Alison Bodine, representing the Alex Saab Defense Campaign of North America and Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO). Alison focused especially on the case of Alex Saab and the movement demanding his freedom.
The struggle to free Alex Saab and to defend Venezuela against U.S. imperialist attacks continues! Find out how you can stand in solidarity with Venezuela! Upcoming events are listed on www.firethistime.net and you can register for the next monthly picket action at https:// tinyurl.com/handsoffvzla or follow the Fire This Time Movement for Social Justice Venezuela Solidarity Campaign on Instagram @ftt.venezuela
Follow Janine on Twitter: @janinesolanki
Back to Article Listing
