Vancouver hosts two revolutionary speakers from Venezuela

Vancouver’s Latin American and Venezuelan solidarity groups managed to pull off a series of very successful meetings and events for two Venezuelan visitors who, at the last moment, decided to take a “side trip” to Vancouver during their Toronto/Montreal speaking tour.

Vancouver’s Latin American and Venezuelan solidarity groups managed to pull off a series of very successful meetings and events for two Venezuelan visitors who, at the last moment, decided to take a “side trip” to Vancouver during their Toronto/Montreal speaking tour. More than one hundred people turned up at the Maritime Labour Centre to hear Jacobo Torres de Leon and Marlyn Zerpa speak at the main public forum on Thursday, September 22 ^nd. Many groups came together to host the event, including the Vancouver Internationalist Bolivarian Circle “Bob Everton”, Hands Off Venezuela, La Surda, the FMLN, Haiti Solidarity BC, the Vancouver and District Labour Council, and others. All of these groups have an understanding of the importance of the Bolivarian revolution, as a beacon of hope and inspiration for working people and the poor not just in Latin America, but worldwide.

Jacobo Torres, who is a UNT organizer, gave an enthralling account of the revolutionary process, beginning with the 1989 IMF package which led to the popular uprising known as the caracazo. Jacobo impressed the audience by admitting that he and Marlyn had been somewhat surprised to find that there is also poverty in Canada and that the struggles of the Canadian working class are the same as those of Venezuelan workers and poor – struggles against privatization and for quality healthcare and education. Marlyn outlined the incredible gains of the various misiones that are providing healthcare and literacy, primary and secondary education in the communities. Both speakers took an internationalist approach, emphasizing the Venezuelan revolution as just one part of a pan-American and worldwide revolution against the common oppressor – the transnational corporations and their system of capitalism, which puts profit before people.

The speakers’ presentations were followed by a very high level of discussion, with Jacobo and Marlyn answering questions about everything from the new rights guaranteed for Venezuela’s indigenous peoples to international free trade agreements to Haiti solidarity. Jacobo is also a member of the International Planning Council of the World Social Forum which is taking place in Caracas between January 24^th and 29^th. He emphasized the need for North Americans to attend the forum – even those who are undecided or not supportive of the revolution – to see the process first-hand and engage in discussion.

If you are interested in working with Hands Off Venezuela, including possible organizing for the World Social Forum, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (in the Vancouver area) or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..