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Protest In San Francisco Against Intervention in Venezuela

by solidarity (venezuelasolidarity [at] hotmail.com)
S.F. PRESS CONFERENCE / RALLY IN SUPPORT OF VENEZUELA’S DEMOCRATIC PROCESS COORDINATED WITH ACTIONS NATIONWIDE
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18th, NOON at VENEZUELAN CONSULATE 311 CALIFORNIA @ BATTERY
Local News Desk

For Immediate Release: Contact: Amie Fishman (415) 317-2509
December 16, 2002 or Eric Quezada (415) 699-0270


S.F. PRESS CONFERENCE / RALLY IN SUPPORT OF VENEZUELA’S DEMOCRATIC PROCESS COORDINATED WITH ACTIONS NATIONWIDE
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18th, NOON at VENEZUELAN CONSULATE

Bay Area community leaders embark on second trip to gain knowledge of turbulent political situation and support democracy in Venezuela

San Francisco, CA – A second fact-finding delegation to Venezuela this year will launch with a press conference and rally on Wednesday December 18th at noon, at the Venezuelan Consulate, 311 California St., in San Francisco in conjunction with other rallies of solidarity with Venezuela’s democratic process throughout the U.S. and the world, including Chicago, New York, Washington DC, and Paris, France.

Delegation members will gain first-hand knowledge of Venezuela's complex political situation through dialogues with civic leaders, community members, labor leaders, independent media makers, and neighborhood groups dedicated to community-driven development (known as Bolivarian Circles).

Venezuela is currently experiencing the longest sustained general strike in its history. This strike has been coordinated by the richest sectors of Venezuelan society, some of whom briefly overthrew the democratically elected government of President Hugo Chávez in a violent coup on April 11th of this year, and some of whom have publicly called for similar unconstitutional measures in the current conflict.

Though Chavez has been elected twice in the last four years and his policy reforms have been ratified by a majority in national referendums, the government has been continually under siege by well-funded groups in Venezuela and abroad who have sought to destabilize the oil-rich nation.

Strongly biased, anti-Chavez reporting by media outlets in Venezuela and the U.S. has made it difficult to ascertain the situation on the ground (as documented by media watchdog group Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, at http://www.fair.org).

The delegation is a project of the Venezuela Solidarity Group (VSG), a network of Bay Area community leaders who support democracy and equitable development in Venezuela. In keeping with international law, the VSG also works to oppose illegal intervention by other nations in Venezuela's affairs.

Wednesday's press conference will be a send-off for the delegation, which will last ten days in early January. Please contact Amie Fishman at 415-317-2509 or Eric Quezada at 415-699-0270 for further information and to coordinate interviews for the press conference and during the delegation's visit.

###
by John Doe
In general, I agree with the SF philosophies, but I feel that you guys are getting it all wrong with regard to Venezuela. Chavez is a dictator in disguise who fooled Venezuela into electing him, then in short time is turning a democracy into another Cuba / Iraq situation where a great country is hijacked by a greedy evil man who wil never, ever relinquish control even at the expense of the sufferiong people. Please lets do something about this before Chavez cements his rule as Castro and Hussein have done. We dont need another 50 years of sanctions, wars, etc with Venezuela like we have against Cuba and Iraq. We need to get him out now. He has violated democracy in that country too many ways in the last few years to argue that he shouldnt be removed from power.
by john doe??
come on john doe.
this is a brainwash-free zone
no one believes your stupid shit.
by WhizWart
I hear all these arguements that Chavez was democraticly elected so we shouldn't touch em. The guy tried to dissolve Congress.....how is that democratic?
by Erely Zambrano (erelyzambrano [at] hotmail.com)
I totally agreed with the other Venezuelans. I read the newspapers and hear the media, and they refer to Chavez as a Democrat when He hangs out with his Communist buddies, He should assylum w/ them. The whole is getting small for him. And please to the people who supports the ideology of Chavez, I would appreciate not be referred as Democracy because it confuses all the real Venezuelan. "Don' Step Back"
by Carlos
Ok, He did not dissolve copngress, he didn't even imprison or kill the coup plotters, which he should have. If in the United States, thre was a coup attempt, Bush would kill them and all the flag waving patriots would be cheering him on. Chavez isn't perfect, but he has brought so much hope and a real better life for most of us, sorry if he isn't what America wants, he's what Venezuela needs.
by Duhende
Se debe no tener cerebro, o ser mononeuronal para creer las barbaridades de Chavez y su seguidores. Cual es el miedo que le tiene al referendum??, si lo tiene ganado segun Uds??. Fijesen el ejemplo de California, estan las firmas y listo, el referendum va. Entiendo su desesperacion, pero diganme con toda sinceridad, cual es la razon para no hacer el referendum?. No me respondan idioteces como que el CNE, los gobernadores o la inoperante AN (por ambos bandos). Cual es el miedo? saben que estan perdidos y quieren terminar de robar lo poco que nos queda. El tiempo esta, y lo dice la misma Bicha que promulgo Chavez. Le llego el sabado a ese cochino...
I couldn't believe the comment made by "Carols", who must be one of the high-ranked "Circulos Bolivarianos" beneficiaries to actually claim that "Chavez is what Venezuela needs" and that Chavez has provided "a real better life" for most of us. Our karma as venezuelans is to be reminded that Chavez was democratically elected. But whoever lives there knows that most of who voted for this crazy man are regretting it. We have a President that doesn't stop embarrassing us when he speaks in public, both at home and overseas. We have a President who payed a lot of $$ to be allowed to pitch at a NY Yankees game and bluffed about having been "invited" be the team to do so once he got home. This man is willing to see people die for his so-called "Revolution" and has made several trips to Cuba without Congress knowing about it more than once (in Venezuela presidential trips abroad are notified to congress). He allows illegal cubans to be in our country. He prefers to point at former presidents as oligarcs and corrups instead of doing something good for his people. Oil prices have shot up in the last couple of years and Venezuelans are more underserved than ever. The church is considered "diabolic" by officialists ! But one of Chavez's favorite things is a crucifix, which he holds and kisses during his speeches !! Chavez's father is Barinas' governor and is being accused of corruption. Carlos and anyone who stands behind Chavez's false revolution are eager for confrontation and think that people that have worked hard to have a few possesions, who have carreer and have succeded in any way, are because they are rich... could you at least explain to all intelligent persons out there that read this in which ways your life has been better ?? Can you prove that none of what is described here is true ?? I invite you to try.
by jjj
like or not the world is changing. dictator? just one of many on either side. does anyone have accurate information as to the expected output of the two ak factories being built ? are they done yet
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