MEDIA ADVISORY
Press Contact

Lorraine Liriano 347-228-2214

What: Press Conference to announce the Feb. 23^rd Global Day of Actions: NO WAR ON VENEZUELA!

When: Wednesday, February 20, 2019 @ 12noon

Where: In front of Sen. Chuck Schumer’s office: 780 3rd Ave, between 48th and 49th streets

On Wednesday, Feb. 20, human rights, anti-war, student, community and many other organizations and activists will gather in front of Senator Chuck Schumer’s office to announce plans for the GLOBAL NO WAR ON VENEZUELA actions to take place in New York City and around the world this Saturday Feb. 23.

The global actions—which now count to 70—are demanding no war on Venezuela and for Washington to respect Venezuela’s sovereignty. For many years now, especially since the people of Venezuela supported the government of Hugo Chavez, the U.S. government has attempted to undermine the grassroots movement President Chavez launched.

After President Chavez’ death, Nicolas Maduro, a bus driver, became the president.

President Nicolas Maduro has been democratically elected twice; winning the support of an overwhelming majority of the people for his government. The super-marginalized, black, indigenous and women of Venezuela especially support the Maduro government and its policies. Like Chavez, Maduro has made social services and people’s needs the priority. Oil revenues do not go to fill the coffers of the rich, but instead go to help the impoverished—which angers the rich elite of Venezuela but especially the multinational corporations, like Exxon.

That is why in New York City activists will rally at Wall Street on Feb. 23 to demand: “No War for Oil.”

Mainstream media have gone along with and aided the disinformation campaign emanating from Washington to justify U.S. intervention.

Senator Schumer has repeated the lies about Venezuela. On Feb. 13, Schumer wrote: “… the people of Venezuela have suffered a manufactured crisis at the hands of a cruel and corrupt regime. Nicolás Maduro’s effort to block the delivery of desperately needed food and medicine is despicable and should be broadly condemned by leaders across the globe.”

Human rights, labor and other activists who have spent time in Venezuela will tell Schumer that they can attest that the Maduro administration is neither cruel nor corrupt. The so-called humanitarian aid Schumer refers to smacks of the exact kinds of provocations the U.S. has used in previous interventions such as in Iraq or Syria.

On Wednesday, Feb. 20, the people will tell Schumer that if he cares about the people of Venezuela so much, he should work to lift the sanctions that cost Venezuela $20billion a year.

On Feb. 24, a day after millions protest against war in Venezuela, U.S. puppet Juan Guaido will be helping Washington and the Pentagon supposedly bring in aid into the country.  That aid is likely to be a trojan horse.

For more information and for a list of the 70+ actions visit NoWarOnVenezuela.org; social media #HandsOffVenezuela and #23feb; or email  info@nowaronvenezuela.org