Fire This Time Movement for Social Justice — Venezuela Solidarity Campaign
July 20, 2017
Vancouver, Canada
Ever since the election of Comandante Hugo Chavez in 1998, the US government and their allies have been attempting to overthrow the government of Venezuela and reverse the gains made by poor, working and oppressed people in the Bolivarian Revolution. Now under US President Trump they are putting their plans into overdrive — but facing strong resistance.
US-backed, violent anti-government protestors have become increasingly dangerous and destructive. Over the last two months over 90 people have been killed in Venezuela and over 1200 people have been injured as a result of a destructive destabilization campaign by Venezuela’s violent opposition. These pro-US mercenaries have committed murder, arson, and theft, among other dangerous crimes and terrorist actions all with the objective of overthrowing the democratically elected government of President Nicolas Maduro.
In the face of these increasing attacks by Venezuela’s counter-revolutionary opposition, President Nicolas Maduro has called for a National Constituent Assembly to strengthen the Bolivarian revolution and constitution. On July 30, people in Venezuela will go the polls to elect this National Constituent Assembly.
On July 17, US President Trump released a ridiculous and inflammatory statement which threatened that, “If the Maduro regime imposes its Constituent Assembly on July 30, the United States will take strong and swift economic actions.”
The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry replied immediately, “The original constituent power is contemplated in our Constitution and it only concerns the Venezuelan people. The National Constituent Assembly will be elected by the direct, universal, and secret ballot of all Venezuelans, under the authority of the National Electoral Council, as contemplated in our legal framework. It is an act of political sovereignty of the Republic, nothing and no one can stop it. The Constituent Assembly will go on!
Today, Venezuelan people are free and will respond united against the insolent threat posed by a xenophobic and racist empire. The anti-imperialist thought of the Liberator is more valid than ever.”
People in Venezuela continue to mobilize in the streets in the hundreds of thousands to defend the democratically elected government of Nicolas Maduro and the Bolivarian Revolution. Mass rallies have been held in cities across Venezuela in support of the Constituent Assembly, demanding an end to US interference and an end to right-wing violence.
Defending the gains of the Bolivarian Revolution has never been more important in Venezuela and around the world. The Fire This Time Venezuela Solidarity Campaign calls for increased mobilization and unity in defence of the sovereignty and self-determination of Venezuela and to demand:
NO TO REGIME CHANGE IN VENEZUELA!
U.S. HANDS OFF VENEZUELA!
PRESIDENT TRUMP REPEAL THE EXECUTIVE ORDER AGAINST VENEZUELA NOW!
U.S. AND CANADA RESPECT THE SOVEREIGNTY & SELF-DETERMINATION OF THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE!
LONG LIVE THE VENEZUELAN BOLIVARIAN REVOLUTION!
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