Dear John,
As we gather with loved ones this Thanksgiving week, I find myself reflecting on what we have to be grateful for — and what we must protect.
As a Venezuelan, I know what it looks like when democracy slips away. I've watched my home country transform from an unequal yet vibrant democracy into an authoritarian state — not overnight, but through years of eroding institutions, disdain for democratic norms, and the slow silencing of civil society. When I see some of the same warning signs emerging here in the United States, I don't take them lightly.
I worry about what happens when leaders act as if the rules don’t apply to them. In Venezuela, we’ve seen the consequences: elections stolen, human rights violated, institutions hollowed out. Now, we’re seeing military strikes being carried out by the U.S. in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific with little to no oversight and in clear violation of U.S. and international law. This, to me, is a stark reminder of just how fragile democracy can be.
But here's what I also know: the U.S. is not Venezuela. Democracy in the United States is under severe threat, but it has not been completely lost.
Recently, I had the opportunity to speak at the University of Pennsylvania about the parallels and differences between Venezuela and the United States. Later, we hosted renowned political scientist Dr. Steven Levitsky, author of “How Democracies Die”, for a powerful conversation during WOLA's Human Rights Awards Month. His message was both sobering and hopeful: yes, democracy in the United States faces serious threats, but the march towards authoritarianism is not inevitable — and there are concrete ways we can preserve democracy.
Political participation matters. Community organizing matters. The resilience of our institutions matters. What we do right now will determine whether democracy endures. But we cannot do this work alone, isolated from one another. Democracy survives when we build and strengthen community — when we come together across differences, when we support one another, when we refuse to be divided by those who benefit from our isolation. When we use our creativity to innovate politically and use the power of our diversity to achieve common goals.
Today, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, I’m especially mindful of the role that women have played and continue to play in the fight against authoritarianism worldwide. Our struggle for democracy is inextricably linked to our fight for safety, dignity, and justice.
For over 50 years, WOLA has been creating spaces where these communities can come together — bringing civil society leaders from across the Americas into conversation with policymakers, connecting grassroots defenders with one another, facilitating the exchanges that help us learn from each other's struggles and victories. I think about the Venezuelan activists, the Mexican human rights defenders, the Central American journalists, the Indigenous leaders — all finding strength in solidarity, all refusing to fight alone. When I see these connections form, when I watch people realize they're part of something larger, I'm reminded why this matters so deeply.
As we approach the end of this year, I'm asking you to stand with WOLA and with these communities. Your support doesn't just fund our advocacy; it helps build and sustain this network of people committed to justice and human rights across the Americas. It creates space for these essential conversations. It ensures that those on the front lines know they're not alone. Democracy hasn't been lost, but we need your help, and we need each other to ensure it isn't.
