Stand for Peace: Hands off Venezuela

12 NOON: Join us as we Stand for Peace at the corner of MLK and North

CALL NOW TO SUPPORT PRISONERS’ FIGHT AGAINST TOXIC LIVING CONDITIONS (event page)

This week people at the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility (WHV) will be put on lockdown from Tuesday through Friday. During this time, everyone incarcerated at WHV will be forced to take Ivermectin, a pill to treat what MDOC is calling a scabies outbreak, and the prison will be closed to the public.

MDOC is forcing the use of Ivermectin in response to a mysterious, itchy rash that broke out a year ago. People inside WHV are reporting that they suspect the rash is not due to scabies, but rather to issues with the buildings’ water system, black mold, and lack of ventilation. They report, for example, that MDOC staff have been warned not to drink tap water at the facility, while prisoners have no other option.

People inside report that if they refuse to take the Ivermectin pill they are facing punishment and will be placed in segregation for 90 days.

Call to demand MDOC’s accountability for the handling of the rash and overall conditions at WHV. Show MDOC that the public is paying attention to the treatment of the prisoners inside WHV.

CALL FRIDAY, JANUARY 25 AND ASK:

• Why are women being forced to take this pill when there are reports that the rash may not be connected to scabies?
• Why are there reports that the water is not drinkable and there is black mold in the showers? Why are guards and doctors told not to drink the tap water?
• Why has the prison failed to investigate the rash with more transparency?
• What will happen to women who refuse to take the pill?

Numbers

• Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility Warden, Shawn Brewer (734)-572-9900, then press 8 for “more options”, 3 for administrative office, 1 for warden’s office
• MDOC Director, Heidi Washington (517)-241-7238

BACKGROUND:

Last February many people at WHV complained of an itchy rash that was originally identified as scabies. When many tests came back negative for scabies, officials began looking for another cause of the rash, at one point blaming prisoners for mixing cleaners for self-laundering of clothes.

In the past two months, officials returned to their theory that the rash is scabies, and have treated 25 people with Ivermectin, a pill used to fight parasites. This week, all 2,070 inmates will be required to take Ivermectin, and be placed on lockdown in their units for 4 days. During this time the prison will also be closed to visitors. A mass treatment like this is unprecedented, and those who refuse will be placed in segregation.

Reports from women inside say that not all the women suffering from skin rashes believe it is due to scabies and suspect MDOC’s response to enforce a mass treatment of scabies is covering up for infrastructural issues in the buildings potentially related to the rash, such as the water system, black mold in the showers, and the buildings’ lack proper ventilation. WHV’s building conditions and inadequate health services (provided by Tennessee-based Corizon Health Inc) have been previously extensively reported on by the Free Press and other media outlets, yet MDOC continues to deny this could be connected to the outbreak.

Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association-Black Caucus is partnering with Milwaukee Public Schools for the National BLACK LIVES MATTER at School Week of Action. All events are free and open to the public.

Join other educators working to make MPS a district that empowers our students, centers Black voices in the classroom, and affirms Black lives every day of the year.

Join us for a screening of this powerful film and a talk-back afterwards.

#BlackLivesMatteratSchool

Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association‎

Register here: tinyurl.com/BLMWeekofAction

Feb. 4: Examining BLM at School National Demands – Panel Discussion

Feb. 5: Talking Black in America – Movie Screening & Talk-Back

Feb. 6: Black Lives Matter Poetry Open Mic Night

Feb. 7: MTEA Black Caucus Awards Night and Soup Dinner

Feb. 8: MTEA Black Caucus Black Lives Matter Social

End Prison Slavery

814 W Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee Public Library, 5-6:30 P.M.

Two IWW members will be at Milwaukee Central Library, 814 W. Wisconsin, meeting room 2A, on Monday, Februar 4, 5:00-6:30 PM. They will be working on some of the activity they regularly do for the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee, supporting the campaign against arbitrary regulations at Columbia Correctional, coalition efforts to shutdown the Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility, and connecting different networks inside prison walls. Our work includes research, writing letters, data entry, and developing ideas for disrupting the horror that is the Wisconsin prison system. Come by if you want to see what’s involved with this organizing, ask questions, and maybe get involved in this. Free coffee and snacks are provided. Let us know if you need a ride to be able to attend. This gathering will be followed by our strategy meeting at 6:30, visitors are welcome to attend this as well.

PDF: wi bopm venezuela half sheet 1 25 19

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaks at a public event in Caracas Feb. 12, 2015. A coup plot against the Venezuelan president was thwarted that day. | Photo: AVN

Statement of the Campaign to End U.S. and Canada Sanctions Against Venezuela

January 23, 2019

Today the people of Venezuela mark the 61st anniversary of the defeat of dictator Marcos Perez Jimenez by a popular mass movement.  As Venezuelans march today honoring their sovereignty, liberty, and the Bolivarian revolutionary process, we stand with them and their democratically elected government of President Nicolas Maduro. We support the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people and resources and say “no” to US interventionism in any form.

In the first three weeks of 2019, the U.S. government and its allies, including Canada, have continued to escalate their war against Venezuela. This has included an intensification of their campaign to overthrow the legitimate government of Venezuela.

Recent comments by U.S. Vice-President Pence in support of Venezuela’s violent, U.S.-backed opposition amount to calls for a coup d’etat in Venezuela.  Although over 6 million Venezuelans voted for Nicolas Maduro in the May 20, 2018 Presidential election (an election that was free, fair and transparent) the U.S. government and its allies have refused to recognize President Maduro. Instead, the US supports Juan Guaido, the new President of the National Assembly, an illegitimate body that Venezuela’s Supreme Court has ruled, since 2016, to be in contempt of court.Update! It should say “Today U.S. President Trump and the government of Canada have taken an unprecedented, illegal and antidemocratic step in recognizing Juan Guaido as” interim president” of Venezuela. This interference into the internal affairs of Venezuela is a clear violation of the sovereignty of Venezuela and international laws such as the charters of both the United Nations and the Organization of American States.

Beginning in March of 2015 and intensifying from August 2017 the U.S. government and its allies imposed multiple severe sanctions on Venezuela attempting to strangle the Venezuelan economy and bring the Venezuelan people to their knees. The United States, Canada, the European Union and Switzerland have all imposed cruel sanctions against Venezuela which have had far-reaching and devastating impacts for the people of Venezuela. Over the last month, there have also been increasing threats from the U.S. Trump administration that the sanctions would be expanded to target Venezuela’s oil industry.  Unilateral financial sanctions cut Venezuela off from refinancing foreign debt, and create challenges for the importation of food, medicine and basic goods. These brutal economic sanctions, referred to as unilateral coercive economic measures in Venezuela, are inhuman and illegal under the Organization of American States (OAS) and the United Nations (UN) charters.

The US and Canada hypocritically claim to be concerned about the humanitarian situation in Venezuela and the suffering of the people, while their sanctions regimes are deliberately designed to asphyxiate the Venezuelan economy. Sanctions are war and the U.S., EU and Canada sanctions are a declaration of war against the people and government of Venezuela. We call for an immediate end to all sanctions and threats against Venezuela.

These same interventionist governments cry crocodile tears for “democracy” and “human rights” while they support a violent and criminal opposition that commits killings and acts of terrorism against the people of Venezuela and incites violent protests.

As people in the United States and Canada who believe in the sovereignty and self-determination of independent states we are deeply concerned about the U.S. government intervention in Venezuela. The Campaign to End US and Canada sanctions against Venezuela  demand an end to this vicious campaign of “regime change” against the democratically elected President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro.

As the people of Venezuela march in the streets today in defense of their government of President Maduro, we stand strongly and firmly with them. We encourage peace and justice-loving people across the U.S., Canada and around the world to join with us in organizing in defense of Venezuela’s sovereignty and self-determination and against any foreign intervention. To get involved in the anti-sanctions Campaign, visit our website at: https://afgj.org/focus-areas/venezuela-solidarity-campaign/campaign-to-end-us-and-canada-sanctions-against-venezuela

Hands Off Venezuela! Emergency Demonstration

Hands off Venezuela! Not another U.S. Coup!
The people of Venezuela are in urgent need of solidarity. Join us on Tuesday, January 28th at 6:30pm at Federal Plaza to stand against this blatant attempt to overthrow a democratic government.

The progressive, legitimately democratically elected government of Venezuela, headed by President Nicolas Maduro, is currently the target of an active coup attempt by the right-wing opposition, headed by Juan Guaidó. The two leaders personal histories speak for themselves. Maduro, a former bus driver and trade unionist, has continued the progressive reforms of Hugo Chavez, using the nation’s oil wealth to benefit the people of Venezuela rather than U.S. corporations. Maduro was re-elected for a second term in May 2018 by 68% of the popular vote. Guaidó, the opposition leader who Donald Trump has recognized as the “interim president” of Venezuela even though not a single Venezuelan has cast a vote for him, is supported by the wealthy elite of Venezuela, whose power has been eroded by nearly 20 years of the Bolivarian Revolution.

Latin America has already suffered tremendously due to U.S.-backed right-wing coups that have led to the death of thousands from death squads and the impoverishment of millions in order to enrich the U.S. ruling class and the local elites. We will not let Venezuela be next!

Organized by Freedom Road Socialist Organization
Endorsed by:
USPCN – U.S. Palestinian Community Network
Chicago ALBA Solidarity Committee
Black Lives Matter – Chicago
Party for Socialism and Liberation
La Voz de los de Abajo

Message us if your group or organization would like to endorse this demonstration.

teleSUR: https://www.telesurenglish.net/
For more information about Venezuela, Maduro’s recent election, and Juan Guaidó, check out the following articles from Fight Back! News:

http://www.fightbacknews.org/2019/1/12/frso-congratulates-nicol-s-maduro-his-second-term

http://www.fightbacknews.org/2019/1/16/venezuela-who-juan-guaid

https://bit.ly/2UbwLuA

Today US President Donald Trump took the extraordinary and illegal action to recognize the president of Venezuela’s legislature as the “interim president” of the country.

Sign the petition HERE to tell your elected officials NO US/CANADA-ENGINEERED COUP In Venezuela! It is clear that the US government and corporate media believe they have entered the final offensive to replace the elected Venezuelan government of President Nicolas Maduro with one that will be subservient to the interests of the US and its allies. Tell your elected officials (US and Canadian) that you oppose foreign intervention in Venezuela’s internal affairs. This action is counter to both the United Nations and Organization of American States Charters and thus illegal under international law.