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Venezuelans in Colorado Hold a Demonstration to Demand Justice for Their Country

IN COLORADO | Venezuelans will join the global sit-in to show solidarity with victims of repression and demand freedom for current political prisoners in their country. (Illustration/El Comercio de Colorado)

THE EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1, AT THE INTERSECTION OF 7353 FEDERAL BLVD IN WESTMINSTER AT 11:30 AM.

Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado

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This Sunday, December 1, 2024, Venezuelans in Colorado will participate in a peaceful sit-in as part of a global mobilization organized in response to the call of opposition leader María Corina Machado. The event aims to demand justice for crimes against humanity committed in Venezuela and to call for the recognition of the opposition’s victory in the July presidential elections, results that the Chavista regime refuses to accept.

“This is a symbolic act of respect for the victims of violence and repression in Venezuela. We want to highlight the severity of the crimes committed and draw the attention of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to act urgently,” said Yoletti León, from the Broad Front of Venezuelan Professionals and Technicians in Colorado, one of the local coordinators of the event. This initiative is also led by the coordinators of Voluntad Popular and Vente Venezuela in Colorado.

A Silent Cry for Justice

Organizers have invited participants to gather at Federal Blvd and Alameda at 12:30 PM, where they will maintain strict silence as a way to give a voice to those silenced by the regime. Attendees are also encouraged to paint their hands with red paint and write “ICC, ACT NOW!” to reinforce the protest’s central message.

This gesture, echoed in cities around the world, aims to remind the international community of the severe human rights violations faced by Venezuelans. “Our silence is a cry for justice, an urgent call for the ICC to investigate and sanction the crimes against humanity in our country,” León emphasized. Between 2014 and 2024, victims of Chavista repression exceeded a thousand, according to Amnesty International reports.

Crisis Context

In the July 28 elections, the Venezuelan opposition, united under the Democratic Unitary Platform, achieved a significant victory with Edmundo González as their candidate. However, the Maduro regime, in a widely denounced fraudulent maneuver, declared itself the winner without releasing detailed results. Since then, persecution and repression have intensified, resulting in more than 1,900 political prisoners and numerous cases of torture and disappearances.

Reports from UN human rights experts detail practices such as electric shocks, simulated drowning, and beatings to extract confessions from prisoners under the Chavista regime. Opposition leader María Corina Machado has urged Venezuelans to remain steadfast and denounce these injustices. “Not even with their abusive, corrupt, and dirty rules could they prevent their monumental defeat. The victory is ours, and no one will take it away from us,” she stated recently.

A Global Message of Hope and Action

Using the hashtag #CPIActúaYaXVzla, organizers aim to amplify their message on social media, showcasing the strength and solidarity of the Venezuelan diaspora to the world. This global movement seeks not only justice for the victims but also to highlight the urgent need for change in Venezuela. “The world cannot remain indifferent to the humanitarian crisis and human rights violations in Venezuela. This fight is not just ours; it’s a call to all defenders of justice and democracy,” León concluded.