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U.S. Organizations Celebrate Achievements by Venezuelan Government

The twelfth anniversary of Venezuela's Bolivarian Revolution was celebrated by a diverse group of progressive organizations. The groups, which included those representing Afro-descendents, immigrants and workers and others opposed to war and interventionism, organized an event to express their support for the government of President Hugo Chávez.

Gathered in the Festival Center in Washington, D.C.'s Adams Morgan neighborhood, more than 200 representatives of the organizations highlighted the achievements made by the Venezuelan government over the last 12 years.

"The Bolivarian Revolution is based on the dignity of the working people, leading a global movement that isn't only for Venezuela, but serves as a model for the world and shows that the people can progress," stressed Reverend Graylan Hagler, a moderator of the event, minister at a Protestant church and a well-known social justice activist.

The event was also attended by friends of the Venezuelan process of changes that work in think tanks, universities and non-governmental organizations.

Gustavo Torres, director of CASA de Maryland, an organization serving Latino immigrants in the U.S., pointed out that the two principal achievements of the Bolivarian Revolution over the last 12 years have been "the development of a profoundly democratic and participatory process and an extraordinary investment in the poor." Torres added, "This has changed the dynamic in Latin America; there is now evidence that profound changes can come through democratic means."

Andrew Castro, National Coordinator for the ANSWER Coalition, explained how there exist many misconceptions in the U.S. regarding who President Chávez is and what's occurring in Venezuela. "But with the financial crisis and recession in the U.S., with people losing their homes and jobs, many Americans are realizing that Venezuela is trying to construct an alternative model to capitalism."

"There have been many achievements in Venezuela since 1999. The new Constitution that defends the rights of women and indigenous people, the eradication of illiteracy, the significant decrease in poverty and inequality, increases in access to the Internet, and investment of state resources in the bettering of the people," he explained.

Venezuelan legislator Francisco Torrealba, invited as guest of honor to the event, expressed the gratitude of the Venezuelan people for the demonstrations of solidarity by the US people. "In Venezuela we will continue the process of political and social transformation that's necessary for the achievement of social justice and to pay down the historic debt owed by prior governments to the neediest of our people. This will always happen in peace, democracy and within the bounds of the Constitution," he stressed.

Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez sent a video greeting to the groups from Caracas in which he stressed the achievements of the democratic revolution taking place in Venezuela. "We have many reasons to be optimistic; that optimism is based on the participation of the Venezuelan people and also the support that we receive from many people from around the world, including all of you," he said.

Diplomats and other workers of the Venezuelan embassy in the U.S. also assisted as guests of the event. Diplomats from other countries in the region also joined the event to celebrate the successes of the Bolivarian Revolution.

President Hugo Chávez was elected overwhelmingly in 1998 and took office on February 2, 1999.