D12M International Secretariat Press Release 12.10.25

On International Human Rights Day, the December 12th Movement International Secretariat reiterates its unwavering support for Venezuela and our condemnation of the U.S. continuing attempts to overthrow its government.

The U.S. has employed many tactics in this two decades-long campaign to effect regime change: Unilateral coercive sanctions to “make the economy scream;” an unsuccessful coup d’etat against President Hugo Chave; the “Operation Gideon” attempt to kidnap President Nicolas Madur; the cold-blooded murder of civilians on boats in the Caribbean Sea. We were part of the solidarity delegation scheduled to attend the” People’s Assembly for Peace and Sovereignty in Our Americas” going on right now in Venezuela whose plans were disrupted by US-imposed travel restrictions. The US unilateral declaration of the entire closure of Venezuela’s air space, accompanied by GPS interference and navigation signal disruptions experienced by aircraft approaching Caracas’ international airport has led to the cancellation of nearly all international flights into Venezuela. This disruption of international flights have had devastating results on Venezuelans. But these are the heartless, illegal tactics of human rights violators whose only objective is to remove any obstacles to their seizure of Venezuela’s oil reserves.
We support the initiative which is being put forward to legally challenge these war crimes and flagrant violations of human rights in domestic, regional and international fora.

We understand the importance which international support and solidarity can play in maintaining the morale of a country/community under siege. Black folks are well aware of the support which Venezuela has shown to poor and oppressed countries and communities around the world. We remember the free to low-cost oil which Venezuela supplied to Black and Brown communities who could not afford to pay their heating bills in the “free, democratic, capitalist” United States. And the aid which was offered to and rejected by the U.S. government when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005. We participated in Venezuela’s 2018 celebration of the first International Decade for People of African Descent and its recognition of African people’s right to reparations while the country in which we live has done nothing. So while we cannot be in Venezuela with the people, we tell them loudly and clearly, “We got your back.”

STRAIGHT AHEAD!