Defend democracy
The kidnapping of the Venezuelan President, Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, constitutes a flagrant violation of U.S. law, international law, and the United Nations Charter. It is a violation of the principle of self-determination of peoples, which is a fundamental pillar of peaceful coexistence among nations.
The objective here is clear: This is modern day colonization. In his own words, Trump has acknowledged that U.S. oil companies are en route to operate within Venezuelan oil reserves, that the U.S. will run the country until a “proper transition can take place,” and that the U.S. is ready to stage a larger second attack if necessary.
The “Trump Corollary” declared in November is a regression to one of the most disgraceful racist periods in U.S. history — the Monroe Doctrine of the early 1800s when the United States claimed the right to dominance over the democratic rights of all of the countries and peoples in the Americas Hemisphere.
We join movement allies across the Americas in condemning the hypocrisy of U.S. colonial attacks, including the pardoning of convicted narco trafficker former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, the expansion of U.S. military bases in the Caribbean, and pledges to seize control of the Panama Canal.
Illegal executive overreach
This is a clear violation of the U.S. Constitution and a disturbing erosion of checks and balances under this regime. We urge Congress to assert its power against this illegal abuse of executive authority. Please reach out to your Congressperson(s) and demand that they immediately release President Maduro and his wife and stop this unconstitutional military escalation.
This administration is creating instability and threatening regional war. Trump is spending billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars to illegally invade Venezuela for big oil companies, while workers and families are getting priced out of health care, utilities, and food, and are working overtime to make ends meet. Our people need peace and well-being, not war and occupation.
TAKE ACTION
We urge you to do the following:
- Join May Day Strong in sending a letter to your elected officials and spreading the word.
- Join GGJ on Wednesday, January 7 from 1:00–2:30 p.m. PT/ 4:00–5:30 p.m. ET for a social movement briefing on analysis and strategy with international allies from the Global South, including Venezuela. RSVP today!
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