Why the Chicano/a/ChicanX Community must oppose the US attack on Venezuela!
By Bill Gallegos (Mexico Solidarity Project, editorial board Nation Magazine) and Theresa Montaño, Professor of Chicana/o Studies, Cal State University Northridge and CFA faculty union activist
The Trump administration’s domestic assault on Latino communities has now expanded into military aggression against Venezuela and the criminal kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. In his statement the morning after the attack, Trump's racist statement vilified our community through racist distortions and lies in an attempt to justify the militarization and domestic terrorism of our communities and use this terror to gain control of our communities at home and internationally. Moreover, as Chicana/o/xs, Trump's use of the term “Donroe Doctrine” to symbolize domination of the Americas should remind us that U.S. imperialism and racial repression are inextricably linked to our own historical and contemporary experience with U.S. colonial imperial powers. In our own history, we have experienced what it means to suffer US military aggression. The United States waged an unjust war against Mexico and stole more than half of its territories, gaining access to vast deposits of coal, oil, and other precious minerals and resources.
In the same press conference, Trump also claimed that the invasion was in large part motivated by what was in the best interests of the Venezuelan people. Sound familiar? Let’s remember what happened to the Mexican and Native American people who were living in the US southwest, who after annexation were immediately subjected to oppressive laws and inferior institutions such as poor schools, denial of voting rights and political representation, repression of language and culture, police and later Migra brutality, outrageous wealth inequality, denial of access to higher education, etc. Today, we face continued political, economic, and social inequality; as such, we have much in common with marginalized and colonialized people throughout the world.
Let’s be clear. The administration’s violation of international law has nothing to do with drug trafficking and everything to do with controlling the oil reserves in Venezuela. These acts of aggression compel us to unify with the world community in opposing this horrendous violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty, and applaud Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum for her courageous and outspoken stance in opposing this imperialist assault. Like the people of Venezuela, Mexico, Cuba, and Colombia, we have a proud history of resistance. Our legacy includes a long and creative movement for democracy, equality, and self-determination. A critical element of our movement is solidarity with other oppressed peoples and nations. We must express that solidarity by demanding that the US end its attacks on Venezuela, release its President and First Lady, and make reparations to Venezuela for all of the death and destruction it has caused. And we should recognize that Trump’s assault on Venezuela takes place even as he attacks and assaults our communities through the criminal actions of ICE and the Border Patrol. Imperial aggression and domestic oppression are essential parts of Trump and MAGA’s effort to destroy what remains of US democracy so that their billionaire backers can further exploit our labor and that of Venezuela and the rest of Latin America. Now more than ever, we must say Ya Basta! to the Trump/MAGA machine and demand ICE out of our communities and Hands Off Venezuela!
¡Sí Se Puede!
