Around 100 people called for an end the United States blockade of Cuba and Venezuela at Sydney Town Hall on February 28, the anniversary of the 1989 Caracazo revolt in Venezuela.
It demanded the US release Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores from New York jails and that the Australian government reaffirm Cuba and Venezuela’s sovereignty and right to self-determination.
The protest was supported by the Australia-Cuba Friendship Society (ACFS), the Australia Venezuela Solidarity Network (AVSN), Socialist Alliance (SA), Red Spark and Spirit of Eureka.
Chairperson Coral Wynter from AVSN and SA said in 1989 “thousands of protesters were killed by the then right-wing Venezuelan government in the streets”.
“Decent people around the globe are horrified by the US Trump administration’s attacks on Venezuela on January 3, the murder of at least 120 Veneuelans and Cubans on that day and the kidnapping of President Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.”
She said this illegal act was followed by the US deepening its decades-long US blockade of Cuba “with a halt to all oil shipments to socialist Cuba. Both Mexico and Canada are attempting to send humanitarian aid to Cuba to prevent mass starvation of its people.”
Wynter criticised Western governments and Australian Labor for “doing nothing”. She said “they will be remembered as cowards”.
ACFS Sydney president Bob Treasure urged people to build support for Cuba in its hour of need. He spoke about the country’s path-breaking achievements in public health, education and national sovereignty.
“Today, Cuba, Venezuela and the whole world needs us to stand up for the right of countries to make their own decisions.”
Marx Del Rosario, representing SA, spoke about his recent experience as part of the annual ACFS solidarity brigade to Cuba, saying: “We now urgently need to stand by Cuba in its life or death situation in the face of stepped up US attacks.”
Paula Sanchez said Latin America has faced dictatorship and invasion over centuries and that “we are not going to let this happen”.
Marley Liyanagama from Red Spark spoke about the Bolivarian Revolution’s struggle for popular democracy and joined others in urging solidarity with the Cuban and Venezuelan peoples.
Jim McIlroy, from AVSN and SA, said the Trump administration’s attacks “signal a new stage of total war by US imperialism against the Global South … to control Latin America.
He urged the crowd to step up its solidarity with Cuba and Venezuela “and all the countries of Latin America under threat from US domination”. He said one focus had to be demanding an end to the AUKUS nuclear submarine agreement.
Wynter concluded the rally by saying: “We can be confident the Venezuelan people will together figure out the next steps to survive and advance the Bolivarian Revolution. The struggle continues. Venceremos!”
