Venezuela Solidarity Event in Minneapolis
- 01 February 2006
On Friday, January 27, around 80 people attended a Venezuela solidarity event at the University of Minnesota's Blegen Hall, sponsored by the Minnesota Venezuela Committee and the U of M. Jesus "Chucho" Garcia, an Afro-Venezuelan activist and author, discussed CITGO's discounted fuel program and its impact on poor communities in the United States.
He began by outlining the background to the current political situation in Venezuela, raised the question of South American integration, and highlighted the fact that in the U.S. there is extreme poverty as well. In his words, "the North also has a South". With the record profits and vast wealth of the U.S. and its oil corporations, it is ironic that a country which is under constant attack by the U.S. government and media is the one country that has donated millions of dollars of fuel to help poor Americans.
He cited the examples of Queens, Boston, Vermont, Maine, The Bronx, and now Philadelphia, as recipients of this much-needed relief from high fuel prices. Some 40,000 poor families have benefited from this program, including Native Americans, African Americans, Latinos, and poor White Americans.
This is a very concrete aid project which is still in its early stages.
"Chucho" posed the question: is this just demagogy and messing with Bush, or is it genuine international solidarity? According to "Chucho", international solidarity is part of the Constitutional mandate of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
The introduction was followed by a lively series of questions and responses.
"Chucho" finished by explaining that there is an awakening across Latin America: this awakening must take place in the "belly of the beast" as well. This is our task.
* The Hands Off Venezuela Campaign will be presenting the film "Venezuela Bolivariana" this Friday, February 3rd at the Resource Center of the Americas. (3019 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55406-1931) This FREE event begins at 6 PM and will be followed by a discussion on events in Venezuela.
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