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AN INVITATION TO HEAR THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA, HUGO CHAVEZ FRIAS Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Drive, New York City, Friday September 26, 2004, 6pm The Coalition to Welcome President Chavez – over 15 Latino, Black, women’s and community-based organizations – is privileged to welcome to New York City the democratically elected leader of the Venezuelan people. We invite members of your organization to hear President Hugo Chavez Frias and other honored guests including Bernardo Alvarez, Venezuelan Ambassador to the United States; Rodrigo Chaves, National Director of Venezuela’s community-based Bolivarian Circles; and Noely Pocaterra, Vice President of the Venezuelan National Assembly and an Indigenous woman on Friday September 26 at 6pm at the famous Riverside Church (490 Riverside Drive). This event will be televised on C-SPAN and Venezuelan national TV, and it will be broadcast live nationally on WBAI and on its Pacifica radio affiliates and their webcasts. In addition, you are invited to attend two days of informative workshops, Sept 24 and 25 (call for schedule and location), where the guests from Venezuela and women and men from Bolivarian Circles in the US and elsewhere will be presenting and showing films about what this amazing Venezuelan revolution has won for all of us. Venezuela is the fifth largest oil exporter; yet 80% of its population, mostly people of color, live in poverty. President Chavez was elected by a landslide in 1998, initiating a “peaceful and democratic process” aimed at using the country’s oil revenue to end poverty and corruption, and at tackling racism, sexism, and other discrimination. This “Process” is a shining example of true democracy where grassroots people are involved in and direct every decision and reform. People in the United States have been deprived of truthful information about the Venezuelan process. Instead, President Chavez has been vilified by the national and international corporate media. The popular movement in Venezuela has had to withstand countless attacks, most famously in April 2002, when the racist Venezuelan elite in collusion with the Bush administration kidnapped President Chavez and overthrew their new democratically constructed constitution. Millions of people from the poorest areas took to the streets to demand the return of their President and their constitution, and within three days they won both back. Some months later, the managers of the oil industry, directed by the CIA on behalf of US corporations, tried to bring the government down by paralyzing the oil industry. Again, oil workers, retired workers and the community together worked round the clock and defeated this second coup. The visit of President Chavez to the United States, where he will first address the United Nations, and then speak to the community at Riverside Church, is an historic occasion. It is at Riverside that in 1967 the Reverend Martin Luther King, drew out the connection between the movement for civil rights and social change, and the movement against war. A year to the day before he was killed, he delivered his “A Time to Break Silence” speech where he declared that “the [Vietnam] war is the enemy of the poor.” Because President Chavez represents the growing global movement for economic and social justice as well as the movement against US domination and for self-determination, especially in Latin America, his visit at this time is crucial. People in the US will finally have a chance to hear directly what is being won by the people of Venezuela; while Venezuelans will have a chance to see how much people in the US are themselves looking for change. As opposition to invasion and occupation grows in Iraq, the US and everywhere, and as we commemorate the 30th anniversary of the coup against the people of Chile – another US-organized coup – we cannot forget the assassinations of our leaders not only abroad but at home. Those held in most esteem, from President Lincoln to Dr King, the Kennedy brothers, Malcolm X . . ., were all assassinated in “the land of the free”, some of them by those who call on God to bless America. Each of these deaths cost us many more. We cannot afford to let this continue to happen. Security at Riverside Church will be strict. The hopes of many millions in Venezuela and around the world rest with this man whose movement is accomplishing so much for those of us with the least. We ask that all who wish to attend the event in Riverside Church reserve tickets which are $5 each and collect them ahead of time at the office of the International Action Center, 39 W. 14th St between 5th and 6th Sts, Rm 206. Checks may be made out to “IFCO/Coalition to Welcome Chavez” and donations are gratefully accepted. You will be asked for the name and address of all in your group who are planning to attend. On the evening of the event, each person must expect to be checked off with the master list at the door and asked to show photo ID. We ask for your patience in going through the security measures and request that you not bring backpacks, cell phones, or electronic equipment that will slow down the process. The evening will also include a program filled with lively and rich cultural music. Please expect a very late night. We hope you will be able to join us. For tickets or more information please call 212-924-8585 or go to email chavezinnewyork@yahoo.com We look forward to hearing from you. Thanks. William Camacaro, of the Circulo Bolivariano "Alberto Lovera", for the Coalition to Welcome President Chavez
SOME INFORMATION ON THE BOLIVARIAN PROCESO SO FAR: In 1998 President Chavez was elected by a landslide to tackle poverty and corruption. The two parties in power for over 40 years had left 80% of Venezuelans, mostly people of color, in poverty despite a lucrative oil industry. In 1999, a new constitution framed by the population was voted in. As laws implementing the constitution were about to come into force, the US government and Venezuela's white racist elite organized a coup and kidnapped President Chavez. Two days later, on 13 April 2002, millions took to the streets led by women from the poorest areas. With the support of loyal soldiers they won back their elected President and their constitution. In January 2003, oil managers, the corporate media and corrupt union leaders tried to stop the revolution by stopping the oil industry. Again they were defeated. The constitution gives land and housing to rural and homeless people, prioritizes water and food security, promotes co-operatives, recognizes Indigenous peoples' rights, promotes workers' rights, equity between women and men, recognizes housework as productive work, entitles housewives to health care and a pension, promotes unity among Third World peoples . . . The constitution opposes the privatization of oil, enabling the populationto reclaim its stolen oil revenue. Uniquely, on a continent plagued by US-backed military dictatorships and disappearances, the Chavez government promotes a caring use of its military. Soldiers, as well as defending the revolutionary process, work with and for the community: building homes, schools, providing healthcare, teaching, literacy . . . |