Nearly fast enough to break the sound barrier, as I
discovered this morning. I phoned my trusty Scret Service at 7 AM to alert those serving
and protecting that yesterday and possibly still today a howling mob of
vigilantes had surrounded the Venezuelan Embassy in D.C. to threaten the
legitimately invited American activist guests of the Embassy. Among these
guests are recognizable (but unnamed here) figures from international peace
movements among others. Their overnight stays are designed to prevent the
illegitimate take over of a building belonging to the Democratically elected
government of oil-rich Venezuela by a government and its puppet “president”
appointed by the con artists presently occupying the government of the U.S. in D.C.
The glossolalia-afflicted officer was temporarily
flummoxed when I asked him if he might be reading at me from a text, but
quickly recovered, he cut me off with a snappy “Good morning, Ma’am” before
hanging up.
This morning, Kevin Zeese writing for Popular Resistance at
https://popularresistance.org/embassy-protection-collective-responds-to-tactics-to-drive-us-from-the-embassy/
writes that not only is the Embassy still surrounded, those
offering support outside have been assaulted by the vigilantes, and the
so-called “police” have done nothing to stop it, but have arrested the
victims of violence instead.
 |
| Some American embassy guests |
Max Obuszewski urges all concerned Americans to phone the secret service at
202-406-8800 and 202 287-0001 to voice your insistence that the secret service
serve and protect the guests and their support friends outside from vigilante
violence.
He also offers the text of a letter which he urges all of us
to send to the State Department at U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20520
202-647-4000 (This number works with fewer loops,
and gives you 15 supersonic minutes to say what you have to say. Let’s keep the
connection so busy it breaks down.)
(But just try calling the PR number, 202-647-6575 X4
X4 X4 and ask to be connected to
the comment line. It’s a fifteen minute loop which repeats itself, but if you
engage in the charade long enough you will be prompted to press 8 for the
comment line. Here’s what happens: A voice asks you to leave your comment and cuts
you off after 15 seconds. Only supersonic speech allowed.)
There is no FAX number and the website is purposely designed
to prevent any kind of clear interchange. Mike Pompeo is the current Secretary
of State.
Here's the letter:
Dear Sirs,
At this moment, the violent mob that you
have allowed to continually commit acts of violence against persons and
property at the Venezuelan embassy is actively working to smash in the doors
while your officers give permission to the assault and explicitly refuse to
intervene.
As you know, and your officers have
witnessed, members of this mob have physically attacked and made death threats
to the peace activists who are inside and around the embassy. This presence
inside the embassy, as you also know, is lawful, as the peace activists were
invited inside the embassy by those lawfully in charge of the premises.
There has been no action that has
divested them of the right to be inside the embassy or lawful process that
could authorize removal.
Instead you are authorizing a vigilante
group to attack the peace activists inside.
You must take action immediately to
cease this assault, and ensure that there is no violence against the persons
inside. They are in grave danger from the mob you have facilitated and
authorized to besiege the embassy.
You are responsible for any acts of
violence that will be committed against these peace activists inside the
embassy.
Sincerely,
I want to reproduce verbatim words from the bulletin which the Code Pink team sent out yesterday:
“As part of the Embassy Protection Collective, I’ve been
staying inside the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington, D.C. to protect it from
takeover by Trjmp’s coup collaborators. On Thursday I came out to replenish
food supplies, but was arrested as I tried to get the bread, salad greens, and
other food back inside. Right-wing, pro-Guaidó/Trump supporters blocked the
doors. Rather than helping me to get food to people legally inside the embassy,
the police arrested me. I am charged with “throwing missiles”. I am not kidding.
Let’s be clear why we are inside the Venezuelan Embassy. We
are there to protect it from a takeover by an unelected group of Guaidó
supporters, a takeover that would dangerously escalate the conflict. If the
opposition takes over the D.C. Embassy., the Venezuelan government will probably
take over the U.S. Embassy in Caracas. The U.S. could consider this an act of
war and use it as an excuse to invade. We can’t allow that to happen. That’s
why, despite intense harassment and even a cut-off of our food supplies by
right-wing thugs, our peaceful presence inside the Embassy continues.
Meanwhile, inside Venezuela, Guaidó’s continued call for a
military uprising threatens to plunge
the country into a bloody coup that could lead to decades of war. And U.S. economic
sanctions are leading to more misery. There needs to be mediation, like the
Mexican government and the Vatican are calling for. We need your help to stop
the coup attempt. Contact your representative in Congress now. Tell them to
speak out against a coup and U.S. military intervention. Tell them to prohibit
as unconstitutional military intervention in Venezuela at
….A U.S.-backed coup in Venezuela would only serve the
interests of the U.S. and Venezuela elite who stand to profit by taking over a
country with the largest oil reserves in the world. We must prevent unnecessary
bloodshed and suffering in Venezuela.”
Omitted here is any mention that Venezuelan oil is among the
dirtiest of remaining reserves, and that it must stay in the ground if we are
to have a future on this planet, and any recognition by the U.S. Government
(and presumably by the Government of Venezuela) of any relation to climate
collapse.
For more background information, you may want to listen to an interview by
Francisco Dominguez on “Radio Informar” at
https://archives.kdvs.org/archives/2019-05-02_5459_320kbps.mp3/
Skip the music by going to 6:45; and hear Medea Benjamin at 30 minutes.
Please see above to initiate phone calls, and write
letters.
Foreign
Spain’s Socialist Workers Party won 123 of 350 Parliamentary
seats in last weeks election running on a Green platform , a minimum wage
increase, and higher taxes on the rich. If Spain can, the U.S. can too.
To escalate fight against ‘existential crisis” Greta
Thunberg backs general strike for climate. Now we need to organize it.
And guess what: Activism just might work. after blocking
London traffic for just one week, the UK Parliament knuckled under b y declaring
a climate emergency.
Ecuador Amazon Waorani tribe wins first victory against oil
companies befouling their land.
So far, U.S. fumble for a coup in Venezuela seems to be
stalled.
Alberta librarian rushes to archive climate change data before it’s expunged by new
government.
Putin-Trump talk about ending nuke weapons. Voy a ver.
Domestic
America’s renewable energy set to surpass coal usage for
first time.
U.S. Judge Linda Parker determines Flint residents can sue
U.S. government for water crisis.
Warren calls for investigation of surveillance at family separation
protests.
U.S. Judge strikes down Texas anti-BDS law.
6,000 Amazon employees including a VP and Directors call on
Bezos to quit automating oil extraction.
Demanding medicare for all, nurses apply bandaids to plaster
“go-Fund-Me” pages to big pharma headquarters.
N. York’s American Natural History Museum cancels gala
honoring Bolsonaro, Brazil’s far right kapo.
“We teach, we vote!”” 10,000 teachers rise up against
Repuglican legislature in deep south South Carolina.
Kentucky and Minnesota teachers of year boycott Trump
meeting.
Uber and Lyft contract worker drivers set to strike in LA.
For the first time, thanks to People’s Action across the
country, the House Ways and Means Committee expects to hold hearings on
Medicare for All bill.
N.Y. AG Letitia James sets target on Trump malfeasance. She’s a woman, and she’s black, and she don’t take no crap.
Two Justice Department attorneys in charge of the Civil
Rights Division scrutinize Trump voter suppression efforts.
Court strikes down Ohio’s gerrymandering maps “so skewed”
they “predetermined” election outcomes.
Federal Court rules gerrymandered house districts in
Michigan unconstitutional.
Suffolk Superior Court Judge Robert L. Ullmann refuses to
issue injunction requested by attorney Karen Hurvitz to prevent a panel
discussion on Palestine from being convened at U. Mass campus.
Of over 5,000 kids separated from their families, 60 have
been reunited. That leaves 4,940 still unaccounted for. (ICE needs to order new
adding machines.)
Resistance: Providence residents query government officials, prompting them to tiptoe forward with plans to privatize two-thirds of
state’s water supply.
Survey predicts oil investments will go bust in five years.
(Ten years too late?)
New legislation protecting roadless rule preserves American
forests.
With HALT Act, N.Y. progressive’s fight against inhumane
prison punishment gains traction.
Washington State’s King County seeks to block ICE from using
airport to deport immigrants. (They’ll just have to settle for LAX.)
Designed to end crushing debt, Warren’s package to help storm-ravaged U.S.
dependent Puerto Rico recover with dignity gains traction.
Philanthropy in the U.S.
Philando Castile’s mom pays the lunch debts of MN seniors so
they can graduate.
Man opens his $4 million home to homeless Oakland couple
while good neighbors call cops.
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