On Aug. 17, 2024, I participated in a peaceful protest in Vancouver, supporting human rights and the Venezuelan people’s sovereignty. I was genuinely touched by this event, which inspired me to continue working for democratic liberation. I’m Luis, an international student from Colombia; I came to Canada in May 2023 with my Venezuelan husband. My last protest was in Colombia in 2007, where millions marched for the release of thousands of citizens kidnapped by illegal armed forces. This was the last time I felt inspired to physically protest — until now.
Colombia and Venezuela are neighbouring countries in South America, “sister nations” that have experienced a challenging geopolitical landscape over the last 30 years. Venezuela has been ruled by the same political party since 1998, ranked as the fourth most corrupt government in the world, and has been accused of rigging past elections. This administration has led the country, with the largest oil reserves on the planet, into the worst migratory crisis of the Western Hemisphere. Over the last 25 years, around eight million Venezuelans have migrated, seeking refuge and the means to support themselves and their loved ones back home, where there is a shortage of everything that attends to basic human needs.
After an electoral campaign filled with irregularities, Venezuela held elections on July 28, 2024. These irregularities included an aggressive blockade by the government against the opposition’s campaign, and issues with the electoral registry for five million citizens abroad. The results were announced by the Venezuelan National Electoral Council (CNE) without any detail or proof, giving victory to current president Nicolas Maduro. Despite the request of the U.S., E.U. and Canada, the CNE has not given any proof of this result, which violates the laws of Venezuela.
In contrast to that corruption, in a historic and heroic civic movement, the people of Venezuela — led by the opposition — arranged a volunteer network of over one million citizens. At the risk of their own lives and in a record time of 24 hours, they gathered, scanned, and published an open website with 73 per cent of the official tally sheets from the polling booths, which proved that the actual results were a landslide victory for opposition’s candidate, Edmundo González, with 67 per cent of the votes against 30 per cent for Maduro.
The government’s reaction to “anti-government demonstrations since the election” has resulted in the arrest of 2,400 Venezuelans without due process (at least 120 of whom are underaged), and has led to various violations of human rights condemned by the IACHR as practices of state terrorism.
Since July 29, the Venezuelan people, guided by the opposition’s remarkable leader Maria Corina Machado, have peacefully protested both in Venezuela and around the world. They demand recognition of their sovereignty expressed in the July 28 elections and the beginning of the transition to the new government of their elected president, Edmundo Gonzalez. Sadly, these protests have resulted in the death of 23 protestors, an increase in migration, and the exile of Edmundo Gonzalez to Spain.
Aug. 17 was the largest of these protests, where hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans and democracy supporters — in over 370 cities around the globe — demanded loud and clear by singing their national anthem “Gloria al Bravo Pueblo” (Glory to the Brave People) the respect for human rights and people’s will. Today, those words hold more meaning than ever, capturing Venezuelans’ struggles and virtuous victories, a call for reflection for any other democratic nation.
This protest in Vancouver surpassed my expectations for three reasons: 1. The support of Canadian authorities for civil rights, as well as the solidarity of many citizens to the Venezuelan’s cause. 2. The joy of the Venezuelans that transformed the whole event into a family reunion, without diminishing the solemnity of the act. 3. Venezuelans’ awakening, who after 25 years of fighting for their freedom changed their chants from “We will be free” to “We are free” in real time as I marched alongside them, which still brings me to tears.
So much has happened since then, but I want to close with why this message is so important: Venezuelans are not fighting only for their country, their fight is for democracy worldwide. We should never take our freedoms for granted; it is immensely difficult to obtain them, but incredibly easy to lose them. Regardless of your convictions, please always know that your voice matters; you have the right to choose, but you should also have the responsibility of choosing the most ethical, competent, and accountable citizens to be your leaders.
If you wish to know more, feel free to contact Stand Up for Venezuela.
