40,000 deaths. A new report shows that over 40,000 civilians have died in Venezuela since 2017 as a result of U.S. sanctions. And even more will be harmed if the U.S. continues its destructive plan to carry out a coup because a coup would most likely lead to a civil war.
Right here is Washington DC, part of the coup plan is to hand over the Venezuelan Embassy to the representatives of unelected opposition leader Juan Guaidó. This would be totally illegal and will dangerously escalate the conflict.
That's why we formed the Embassy Protection Collective and--with the permission of Venezuela's elected government--we have been living at the DC Embassy to protect it from a hostile takeover. We are an amazing, beautiful group of diverse people from all over the country. During the day we work from the building. In the evening we hold educational/cultural events. At night we sleep on floors and couches to keep a 24-hour daily vigil.
Nothing like this has ever happened in the history of our country and you can be part of it! If you are in the D.C. area or able to travel to D.C, join us. You can come to stay at the Embassy or just come to attend the events or bring us some food and solidarity.
If you can't join us, you can still help by taking action now. Tell the U.S. State Department’s Office of Foreign Missions that opposition leader Juan Guidó has no legal right to the Venezuelan Embassy in D.C.
No one voted for Juan Guaidó to be president. The UN does not recognize Guaidó as president. Guaidó’s representatives cannot provide any diplomatic or consular services because they have no power inside Venezuela.
The United Nations recognizes Maduro, not Guiado, as the legitimate president of Venezuela. It would be undemocratic and ILLEGAL for the U.S. to hand over the keys of the embassy. But we know the Trump administration is not concerned about acting legally or democratically. That's why we, the people, have to stop them. That’s why we need YOU to join us in D.C and to tell the State Department’s Office of Foreign Missions not to hand over the embassy to Guiadó.
On Thursday, Elliott Abrams--right after our own Ariel Gold disrupted his talk--accused us of breaking the law by living in the embassy. This is quite ironic coming from a man who has been involved in war crimes and was convicted of lying to Congress (he was pardoned by George H.W. Bush). We aren’t breaking the law, but Abrams has and is now in the process of breaking international law by trying to orchestrate a coup.
Please join our letter to the State Department’s Office of Foreign Missions. Tell them there is ZERO basis to hand over the embassy to the opposition.
We will remain here as long as necessary. Join us as we put our bodies on the line to stop a coup and a bloody civil war. Join us!
Towards peace,
Ann, Ariel, Carley, Caroline, Jodie, Kelly, Kelsey, Kirsten, Lily, Maya, Mark, Medea, Nancy, Paki, Ryan, Sarah, Tighe, Ursula and Zena
