Festival participants talk about Venezuela’s revolution

Delegates to the 16th World Youth Festival in Caracas held a report-back meeting Aug. 31 in Rogers Park on Chicago’s far north side.

The Campaign to End the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and representatives of the Venezuelan consulate organized the event.

Christina Obregon, a grassroots activist with the Mexico Solidarity Network, chaired the meeting, which featured reports on the Festival by several delegates.

Martin Sanchez of the Venezuelan consulate said that they are currently in discussions with local authorities in Barquisimeto, Lara State, to begin, in his words, “an exchange program that will provide the opportunity to witness the social changes from an experience of learning and participating.”

Sanchez spoke about several ways the exchange program could deepen people’s understanding of the Bolivarian revolutionary process, including a stay in Carora, “where the community is discussing the implementation of the first socialist municipality in the country.”

Speakers and audience agreed that creating a permanent network of friends of the Bolivarian revolution in the U.S. would be a step forward in forging solidarity between U.S. activists and the revolutionary Venezuelan people.

Obregon told Workers World that she found it overwhelming to meet people from the other delegations in Caracas. “Many times I felt like my head was turning all over the place just shaking hands with over a hundred people a day, smiles, kisses on the cheek and greetings in all these different languages. I must have met over 30 delegations, and each and every one of them made me feel welcomed and a part of their celebration or movement even if it was just for a brief moment,” she said.

“The Venezuelan people have this pride that is so passionate,” said Obregon, “it fills one with inspiration. It’s evident that they’re supportive of the Bolivarian revolution. The best experience that I had was that of LOVE. Love for one’s country, comrades and revolution.”

The Venezuelans had different responses to the festival, she continued, but even those few who weren’t sure what it was about, “gave me an opportunity to open a discussion with individuals and talk about the current situation in Venezuela. Almost everyone I met that knew about the festival was pleased to be hosting the event, and felt honored that Venezuela was participating in an historic moment.”

Asked her own opinion of the Bolivarian revolution, Obregon answered: “I feel that as long as the people of Venezuela believe in that idea and continue to nurture the movement with themselves, there will continue to be many great achievements.

Susannah J. Kim, a festival delegate and community organizer, said, “I think that the festival will play a valuable role in preventing U.S. intervention in Venezuela. Chavez and the Venezuelan people want to protect their country, and through the WYF and also the upcoming World Social Forum they can educate people from all over the world and show their gains.

“Some opposition groups,” Kim continued, “have accused Chavez of using the festival for opportunistic purposes. I think that it will be very difficult for the opposition in Venezuela and abroad if people worldwide are able to see with their own eyes the changes that are occurring and the hope and hard work of the Venezuelan people.”

Obregon said, “I feel that global solidarity with the people’s movement and grassroots organizing will play an important role in keeping the U.S. from intervening in Venezuelan affairs.”