Atlanta, GA – Dozens of community members, activists, and trade unionists rallied January 11 outside the Georgia State Capitol to demand no U.S. war on Venezuela and that President Nicolás Maduro be freed immediately.

The rally was called by the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Atlanta Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and Diaspora Pa’lante Collective.

Protesters chanted “Peace, yes! War, no!” and “No boots on the ground, no bombs in the air! U.S. out of everywhere!” to the honks and cheers of passing cars.

“We’ve been here before and this time they’re not even trying to hide it. We know this is about oil, we know this is about rare earth minerals,” said Taylor Cook, an FRSO member. “Who does that benefit? It benefits the capitalists! It benefits the ruling class of this country!”

Pablo Leon from the Atlanta Alliance spoke on the hypocrisy of the United States government. “They call Maduro a dictator that represses his people, but if they want to talk about real repression why don’t they look at Fulton County Jail? Where almost 50% of the inmates have not had their day in court despite spending months in jail and dying there?” said Leon. “Why don’t they talk about the fact that the U.S. has one of the highest incarceration rates per capita, much higher than Venezuela's?”

Batou Ackerman from Diaspora Pa’lante Collective drew the connection between U.S. imperial aggression against Venezuela and the fight for Puerto Rican national liberation.

“This campaign began with the buildup of U.S. armed forces in the occupied colony of Puerto Rico which has served as a base of operations for the United States military in its interventions throughout the Americas,” Batou said. “That such an operation could be launched from the shores of our occupied archipelago is a crime against all Puerto Ricans and a reminder of the need to build broad support for an independence movement across the country.”

The rally concluded with protesters in high spirits, amped up and ready to stand against U.S. imperialism and in support of Venezuela. “The Chavistas, union members, and collective farmers are prepared to defend the Bolivarian revolution with their lives,” said Alex Carson, FRSO member and emcee of the protest. “It’s up to us here in the U.S. to do everything we can to stop the U.S. war machine in its tracks so it doesn’t have to come to that!”

#AtlantaGA #GA #AntiWarMovement #Venezuela #FRSO #AAARPR #DPC

Richardson, TX – On March 18, community members gathered to protest in front of the Raytheon company’s building in response to Raytheon’s complicity in the Israeli genocide in Palestine. The Dallas chapter of the Palestinian Youth Movement called the emergency protest after Israel broke the recent ceasefire agreement and continued bombing the Gaza strip.

Raytheon, second to Lockheed Martin, is one of the world largest weapons manufacturers, and has been targeted by anti-war activists in north Texas. Aside from Raytheon, the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex has seen protests and actions against local Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics plants.

Hundreds of community members shouted chants, “No more ships, no more cargo, we demand an arms embargo” and “Ron, you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide.” The demonstration lasted from 3 to 6 p.m. Volunteers were out and about helping community members and directing people towards the front of the Raytheon building.

Omar Suleiman, a local imam serving at the Valley Ranch Islamic Center stated, “We know that this evil will come to an end inshallah, we know that it is a matter of time. We know that the days of the oppressors are numbered.”

It has been 17 months since October 7 and countless Palestinians continue to lose their lives. Just within the first 12 hours of the breaking of the ceasefire, over 400 were murdered; of those, over 170 were children.

Besides Palestinian Youth Movement, the action was endorsed by many community organizations such as the Dallas Anti-War Committee, MAS Peace, Dallas Palestine Coalition, as well as Dallas chapters of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Jewish Voices for Peace, Democratic Socialist of America, and multiple Student for Justice in Palestine chapters.

#DallasTX #TX #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #AWC #PYM #DPC #JVP #SJP