By Reginald Johnson
NEW HAVEN --- Members of the
Greater New Haven Peace Council showed up in frigid weather outside City Hall on
Friday to pass out leaflets urging people to oppose the Trump administration’s
coup attempt in Venezuela.
Claiming that Venezuelan leader Nicholas
Maduro is running an undemocratic failed state, administration officials are
demanding that Maduro step down and be replaced by a man backed by the United
States, Juan Guaido.
On Wednesday,
President Donald Trump said that “all options are on the table” --- implying
that if Maduro is not willing to step down, the United States would consider
using military force to get rid of him.
Peace Council
member Jim Pandaru said people are tired of America trying to force regime
change around the world, often using force to achieve its ends. He cited Iraq
and Libya as recent examples.
“ I’m here to draw
attention to another American misadventure overseas, getting involved and
continuing endless wars. Everybody is
almost taking war as a given, as a natural thing just like getting dressed in
the morning. This madness has to stop,” said Pandaru, a Vietnam veteran and
member of Veterans for Peace.
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| Jim Pandaru of the Greater New Haven Peace Council protesting US-orchestrated coup in Venezuela. |
Pandaru said the administration is lying by
saying that they want to replace Maduro in order to bring more democracy and
freedom to the Venezuelan people. “Venezuela is sitting on top of one of the
greatest oil reserves in the world and we just want to get our hands on it,” he
said.
Peace Council members
urged people to call their elected representatives in Congress to demand that
the United States stay out of Venezuela and stop interfering in the affairs of
other countries. The congressional switchboard is 202- 224-3121. The White House number is 202-456-1111.
