AMERICAN LEFT HISTORY

This space is dedicated to the proposition that we need to know the history of the struggles on the left and of earlier progressive movements here and world-wide. If we can learn from the mistakes made in the past (as well as what went right) we can move forward in the future to create a more just and equitable society. We will be reviewing books, CDs, and movies we believe everyone needs to read, hear and look at as well as making commentary from time to time. Greg Green, site manager

Sunday, January 27, 2019

Dear UJP activists, Alliance for Global Justice has consistently opposed US intervention in Venezuela and other Latin American countries. I encourage everyone to sign this petition to send messages to Congress saying no US-backed coup to overthrow the Maduro government.

Amy Hendrickson<amyh@texnology.com>

1/23/2019 8:26 PM

To brookline-announce@lists.riseup.net, wilpfa and 3 others

Dear UJP activists,

Alliance for Global Justice has consistently opposed US intervention in Venezuela and other Latin American countries. I encourage everyone to sign this petition to send messages to Congress saying no US-backed coup to overthrow the Maduro government. If you have questions, let me know.

thanks, Duncan

Duncan,

Today US President Donald Trump took the extraordinary and illegal action to recognize the president of Venezuela's legislature as the "interim president" of the country.

Sign the petition HERE to tell your elected officials NO US-ENGINEERED COUP In Venezuela! It is clear that the US government and corporate media believe they have entered the final offensive to replace the elected Venezuelan government of President Nicolas Maduro with one that will be subservient to US interests. Tell your elected officials (US and Canadian) that you oppose foreign intervention in Venezuela's internal affairs. This action is counter to both the United Nations and Organization of American States Charters and thus illegal under international law.

Alliance for Global Justice

Take Action Now!

Statement from President Donald J. Trump Recognizing Venezuelan National Assembly President Juan Guaido as the Interim President of Venezuela

FOREIGN POLICY

Issued on: January 23, 2019

Today, I am officially recognizing the President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Juan Guaido, as the Interim President of Venezuela. In its role as the only legitimate branch of government duly elected by the Venezuelan people, the National Assembly invoked the country's constitution to declare Nicolas Maduro illegitimate, and the office of the presidency therefore vacant. The people of Venezuela have courageously spoken out against Maduro and his regime and demanded freedom and the rule of law.

I will continue to use the full weight of United States economic and diplomatic power to press for the restoration of Venezuelan democracy. We encourage other Western Hemisphere governments to recognize National Assembly President Guaido as the Interim President of Venezuela, and we will work constructively with them in support of his efforts to restore constitutional legitimacy. We continue to hold the illegitimate Maduro regime directly responsible for any threats it may pose to the safety of the Venezuelan people. As Interim President Guaido noted yesterday: "Violence is the usurper's weapon; we only have one clear action: to remain united and firm for a democratic and free Venezuela."

Background information:

U.S. & Canada Hands Off Venezuela!

No Coup d'Etat in Venezuela!

Statement of the Campaign to End U.S. and Canada Sanctions Against Venezuela

January 23, 2019

Today the people of Venezuela mark the 61st anniversary of the defeat of dictator Marcos Perez Jimenez by a popular mass movement. As Venezuelans march today honoring their sovereignty, liberty, and the Bolivarian revolutionary process, we stand with them and their democratically elected government of President Nicolas Maduro. We support the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people and resources and say "no" to US interventionism in any form.

In the first three weeks of 2019, the U.S. government and its allies, including Canada, have continued to escalate their war against Venezuela. This has included an intensification of their campaign to overthrow the legitimate government of Venezuela.

Recent comments by U.S. Vice-President Pence in support of Venezuela's violent, U.S.-backed opposition amount to calls for a coup d'etat in Venezuela. Although over 6 million Venezuelans voted for Nicolas Maduro in the May 20, 2018 Presidential election (an election that was free, fair and transparent) the U.S. government and its allies have refused to recognize President Maduro. Instead, the US supports Juan Guaido, the new President of the National Assembly, an illegitimate body that Venezuela's Supreme Court has ruled, since 2016, to be in contempt of court. This interference into the internal affairs of Venezuela is a clear violation of the sovereignty of Venezuela and international laws such as the charters of both the United Nations and the Organization of American States.

Beginning in March of 2015 and intensifying from August 2017 the U.S. government and its allies imposed multiple severe sanctions on Venezuela attempting to strangle the Venezuelan economy and bring the Venezuelan people to their knees. The United States, Canada, the European Union and Switzerland have all imposed cruel sanctions against Venezuela which have had far-reaching and devastating impacts for the people of Venezuela. Over the last month, there have also been increasing threats from the U.S. Trump administration that the sanctions would be expanded to target Venezuela's oil industry. Unilateral financial sanctions cut Venezuela off from refinancing foreign debt, and create challenges for the importation of food, medicine and basic goods. These brutal economic sanctions, referred to as unilateral coercive economic measures in Venezuela, are inhuman and illegal under the Organization of American States (OAS) and the United Nations (UN) charters.

The US and Canada hypocritically claim to be concerned about the humanitarian situation in Venezuela and the suffering of the people, while their sanctions regimes are deliberately designed to asphyxiate the Venezuelan economy. Sanctions are war and the U.S., EU and Canada sanctions are a declaration of war against the people and government of Venezuela. We call for an immediate end to all sanctions and threats against Venezuela.

These same interventionist governments cry crocodile tears for "democracy" and "human rights" while they support a violent and criminal opposition that commits killings and acts of terrorism against the people of Venezuela and incites violent protests.

As people in the United States and Canada who believe in the sovereignty and self-determination of independent states we are deeply concerned about the U.S. government intervention in Venezuela. The Campaign to End US and Canada sanctions against Venezuela demand an end to this vicious campaign of "regime change" against the democratically elected President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro.

As the people of Venezuela march in the streets today in defense of their government of President Maduro, we stand strongly and firmly with them. We encourage peace and justice-loving people across the U.S., Canada and around the world to join with us in organizing in defense of Venezuela's sovereignty and self-determination and against any foreign intervention. To get involved in the anti-sanctions Campaign, visit our website at: https://afgj.org/focus-areas/venezuela-solidarity-campaign/campaign-to-end-us-and-canada-sanctions-against-venezuela

Send a Letter to your Congress Member now!