INTERNATIONAL ACTION CENTER STATEMENT FOR NATIONAL WEEK OF SOLIDARITY WITH VENEZUELA & PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ
International Action Center
www.iacenter.org 212-633-6646
Founded by Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General
For Immediate Release:
Press Contact: Tony Murphy 347-602-1584
INTERNATIONAL ACTION CENTER STATEMENT FOR NATIONAL WEEK OF SOLIDARITY
WITH VENEZUELA & PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ
Progressive & Anti-war Movement vows to stand with the Bolivarian
Revolution & to oppose any US destabilization efforts
From January 22 to January 31, activists in ten cities across the
U.S. will hold various events in solidarity with Venezuela.
The week of solidarity was initiated by the International Action Center in
response to the health crisis of Venezuela’s President, Hugo Rafael
Chavez Frías, to send messages of good wishes to the President as well as
to express solidarity with the people of Venezuela and its Bolivarian
Revolution. In addition, the Week of Solidarity will send a message to
President Barack Obama that the progressive movement is on the alert to oppose
any possible intervention or destabilization efforts.
The IAC along with many progressive organizations including the
Alliance for Global Justice, Alberto Lovera Bolivarian Circle, Cuba Solidarity
New York, HondurasUSAresistencia, and many others are sponsoring the week of
actions. As co-coordinator of UNAC (United National Anti-War Coalition), Joe
Lombardo stated we “....sincerely hope for the swift recovery of the
President and pledge UNAC’s opposition to any attempt to use President
Chavez’s illness as an excuse to overturn the will of the Venezuelan
people. We will oppose all attempts on the part of the U.S. government to
overturn the gains of Venezuelan society under President Chavez and all
economic, military or other intervention in Venezuela.”
“This is a main message from all the sponsoring
organizations” states IAC Co-Director Teresa Gutierrez. “The media
in the U.S. attempts to delegitimize the election and the administration of
President Chavez during this crisis, but there is no question that President
Chavez was not only legally elected but is massively popular” said
Gutierrez an organizer of the National Days. Hundreds of thousands of
Venezuelans came out on Jan. 10 to show support for Chavez.
The Venezuelan Supreme Court ruled that President Chavez could be sworn in at a
later date. Yet the wealthy opposition continues to call for new elections and
to question who is running the country, which can only be interpreted as
destabilization propaganda.
The elite is perpetually in opposition to Chavez and the
Bolivarian Revolution. Why? Because the wealth of the country, especially
from its oil reserves is no longer filling the pockets of the rich or the banks
but is going to uplift the Venezuelan masses.
A Counterpunch article reports “With regard to…social
determinants of health indicators, Venezuela is now the country in the region
with the lowest inequality level…having reduced inequality by 54%,
poverty by 44%. UNESCO has recognized that illiteracy has been eliminated;
furthermore, Venezuela is the 3rd county in the region whose population reads
the most."
No wonder the people support Chavez and the Revolution. The
opposition has cancelled street demonstrations called for Jan. 23, showing how
unpopular the ruling elite is in the country.
Events to be held include protests in Boston & Los Angeles;
in Detroit the Venezuelan Consulate will be a guest speaker and in Tucson a
Teach-in will be held. For dates and locations of all ten events visit www.iacenter or www.afgj.org .
