Following the bombing of Venezuela’s capital Caracas on January 3, we at The Partisan issued a call to all workers, revolutionaries, and progressives in the United States to immediately take to the streets and reject the imperialist war of aggression against the Venezuelan people. In response to this call, class-conscious activists around the country immediately mobilized in response.
The following day, on January 4, a coalition of organizations in Columbus comprising People’s Defense Columbus, RSU Columbus, Columbus New Labor Committee, and Central Ohio Revolutionary Socialists led over 100 people in a rally and march at the Ohio Statehouse. During the rally activists spoke about the need to let the Venezuelan people determine their own future free from US imperialist aggression, as well as the need to build an independent and class-conscious mass movement in the US. Activists from People’s Defense Columbus noted the connection between the fight for the rights and freedom of migrants to imperialist aggression overseas, stating:
The U.S. is lashing out like a wounded animal against anything that it sees as a threat, both internally and externally it becomes more militarized and despotic, in other words, this country is becoming fascist, more and more every day, in a process called fascistization. One of the prime examples of the growth of fascism in this country are the ICE raids that the ruling class has unleashed on our neighbors and communities, with militarized police breaking down doors and dragging people from their homes! If you look at where many poor migrants come from, they are fleeing the poverty and repression that is a direct result of U.S. imperialism, countries where U.S. corporations like chevron and Chiquita extract and exploit the labor and natural resources leaving the people in utter poverty.
During this rally, People’s Defense Columbus continued their call to build Neighborhood Defense Units in every neighborhood of the city, part of the broader call by the People’s Defense Committee to Build Neighborhood Defense Units Everywhere! Activists also called attention to the several undercover police officers observing the rally from an unmarked vehicle, as well as an undercover officer standing among demonstrators who was signaling to them. This surveillance of demonstrators demonstrates the potential of the masses to threaten the power of the ruling class, as well as the ongoing process of increased militarization and fascistization in the US.
The same day, in Chicago, members of the Borikén Liberation Front and People’s Defense Chicago mobilized alongside fellow residents in Humboldt Park to denounce the imperialist attack on Venezuela.
On January 11, exactly one week later, People’s Defense Chicago, the Borikén Liberation Front, the Chicago Workers’ Circle, Revolutionary Students Union – Chicago, Black Youth Project 100, and Unidos por el Pueblo mobilized in the West Side neighborhood of Humboldt Park alongside over 40 sympathetic masses to protest US imperialist aggression in Venezuela.
From the park, demonstrators marched down North Avenue to the National Guard Armory, where activists from several organizations spoke against imperialism abroad and connected it to the ongoing fascistization in the US, and emphasized the need to develop an independent and class-conscious mass movement to combat these problems. An activist representing People’s Defense Chicago stated:
These militaristic actions are not disconnected. In all cases, there is a common thread, a common contradiction, between the oppressed and the oppressor, the working class and oppressed nations of the world against the imperialist class. What drives the imperialists to target immigrants in their fascistic attacks at home? Profit! What drives them to bomb Venezuela and take over oil extraction? Profit!
Speaking on the necessary steps to take in order to develop the fight against the imperialist system, an organizer with the Chicago Workers’ Circle elaborated that,
If we want to one day put the Beast on trial, we must fight our share of the fight. This means getting organized. This means fighting small fights when we know we can win and building up revolutionary forces to eventually fight big fights. Our fight against US imperialism will be one of the longest and hardest anyone has had to face. Yet there are many already fighting it, abroad, and at home. For us in Chicago Workers’ Circle, we take that fight to our bosses in our shops. The students must take that fight to their school administrations, and the people in the neighborhoods must unite into Neighborhood Defense Units. Puerto Ricans will unite to fight their occupation, and the black youth will unite to fight their national oppression. All of this means organization. If you are serious about the fight, make the commitment and join one of the many organizations here today. The fight is international, and all must play their part.
After these speeches, activists led the demonstrators onto the street, marching along Kedzie Avenue. This was met by a massive police response, demanding that demonstrators leave the street and that the march was an “unlawful assembly.” Despite the efforts of Chicago Police Department to break up and intimidate the protest, the masses held their ground as they broke out into chants of “Whose streets? Our streets!” The march eventually returned to the corner of North Avenue and Humboldt Drive, where police issued dispersal warnings. In spite of this, demonstrators remained, confronting and denouncing the police as individuals stepped on an American flag. After a few intense moments of conflict, police eventually fell back, allowing attendees to voice their grievances using the megaphone before a formal end to the rally was called by the activists.
On January 4 in Oklahoma City, members of People’s Defense Oklahoma City, Edmond Students League, and the Oklahoma City New Labor Committee mobilized to the Plaza Calle Dos Cinco to condemn the undeclared war on Venezuela. Activists in both cities spoke on the pressing need to build an independent and class conscious anti-imperialist movement, while community members and supporters expressed their outrage at the attack and support for the people of Venezuela against US imperialism.
The day after, on January 5, in Providence a coalition of activists from People’s Defense Rhode Island, Providence Revolutionary Student Union, and Rhode Island New Labor Committee also mobilized in protest of the attack on Venezuela. During this rally, People’s Defense Rhode Island announced its new ICE Watch initiative, as part of the broader call by the People’s Defense Committee to Build Neighborhood Defense Units Everywhere!
On January 6, members of People’s Defense D.C. mobilized to a rally at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. to condemn the attack on Venezuela and the capture of president Nicolás Maduro and wife Cilia Flores. President Trump was present at the Kennedy Center at a House of Representatives Republicans retreat that same day. When attendees condemned Representatives walking by, police and security swarmed to protect the Representatives and push the demonstrators back. People’s Defense D.C. highlighted the need to build up an independent and class-conscious mass movement that connects neighborhood defense against fascistization and militarization with struggle against US imperialism.
On January 7, in Denton, TX the Denton Student Union and People’s Defense Denton mobilized against the bombing. They discussed the connections between the ongoing wave of imperialist aggression and the surveillance, ICE abductions, and general militarization and fascistization occurring domestically.
On January 8, members of the League of Revolutionary Students (LRS Washtenaw), Solidaridad Organizada para la Liberación (SOL), Students Allied for Equality and Freedom (SAFE), and the TAHRIR Coalition held a teach-in on US imperialism in Venezuela, Latin America, and worldwide. At least 30 students and community members were in attendance.
On January 11, People’s Defense Johnson City held a protest against the war on Venezuela in front of the Johnson City police station. Around 10 people were in attendance. Demonstrators chanted against US imperialism and in support of the Venezuelan people, as well as against ICE and in commemoration of Renee Good, who was recently murdered in Minneapolis.
On January 3 itself, activists of the Revolutionary Student Union (RSU) mobilized to a rally held that same afternoon in New York City to condemn the attack and undeclared war on Venezuela, as well as demonstrate solidarity between students and working people of the US and those of Venezuela. They called for continued opposition against the violation of Venezuelan sovereignty, and linked it to the ongoing attacks by ICE on immigrant communities in the US, especially those from Latin America. Later in the week on January 7, members of Revolutionary Student Union – Houston put up posters calling for the end of US imperialism and to stand with the people of Venezuela.
Fundamentally, working and oppressed people of the United States and Venezuela are both oppressed by the US imperialist ruling class, and share the same struggle against US imperialism. As demonstrated by activists above, it is a firm necessity to take immediate and decisive action to stage strikes, marches, walk-outs, demonstrations, and other forms of action, in order to mobilize the greatest number of masses to reject this war of aggression.
Yankee, go home!
Down with the US imperialist war on Venezuela!
U.S Out of Latin America!
Down with US Imperialism!
Victory to the Venezuelan People!
Long live the unity between the workers of Venezuela and the US!
Long live proletarian internationalism!
