Friday, November 15, 2019 at 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM EST

Intersection of N Charles St & North Ave, Baltimore

Hosted by Youth Against War and Racism and Socialist Unity Party – Baltimore

Palestine has called for the 1st International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian Resistance on November 15, 2019

Israeli air strikes against Gaza have killed more than 30 people – including children and families – and wounded dozens more in just 2 days. The Israeli attacks seem calculated to provoke a renewed war, and escalation seems likely.

Show solidarity with the Palestinian Resistance and #StandWithGaza!

On Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/AnswerCoalition/videos/2410069345777728/

Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC

Hosted by Answer Coalition and CODEPINK: Women For Peace

A violent fascist coup is underway in Bolivia against President Evo Morales and the progressive project of the Plurinational republic of Bolivia. Using the charge of electoral fraud in the recent election, the fascist opposition is viciously attacking pro-Morales forces, burning government offices and homes. SATURDAY AT NOON AT THE WHITE HOUSE Join us to say NO Coup in Bolivia!

At the current moment, it is reported that Evo Morales has resigned. This coup will not end with the overthrow of President Evo Morales, it will unleash even more fascist violence and repression than we have seen in recent days. Then will come the sacking of Bolivia’s wealth, neoliberal package of cutbacks, privatization and much more. But there will also be resistance by the progressive people in Bolivia. We must continue to protest this U.S.-engineered coup and stand with the resistance. Hands off Bolivia!

Make no mistake, the U.S. government is financing and supporting the opposition. This coup must be understood in the context of the U.S. drive to turn back all the leftist and liberal governments of Latin America. It began openly with the June 2009 overthrow of President Mel Zelaya of Honduras, and has continued with Brazil, Ecuador, Chile, Panama, Argentina. Washington has turned the screws on Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua, but despite severe sanctions has been unsuccessful. In each of those countries experiencing coups, new rightwing leaders have abolished economic and social programs, have waged repression and handed over their country’s wealth to international capital.

We urge all supporters of Latin American and Caribbean sovereignty and independence, to come out to the White House on Saturday, 11/16, at noon, to stand with the Bolivian people and demand No U.S.-backed fascist coup in Bolivia. U.S. Hands Off Bolivia and all Latin America and the Caribbean!

On Facebook

Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM EST

Harriet Tubman Solidarity Center
2011 N Charles St, Baltimore

Hosted by Socialist Unity Party – Baltimore

Partido Socialismo de Unidad/ Socialist Unity Party and Youth Against War and Racism will caravan from Baltimore to D.C. to join ANSWER and other groups to protest against the U.S. backed coup in Bolivia.this Saturday in Washington, DC. We are leaving from the Harriet Tubman Solidarity Center located at 10 AM from 2011 N.Charles Street.. This is the link to the event in D.C. https://www.facebook.com/events/427912681455593 . If you would like a seat or can drive please call or text 410-218-4835.

On Facebook

“Welcome to the dictatorship,” said one woman as she ran from tear gas, motorcycles, pickup trucks with arrested youth, and military tanks. The scene was in the center of the city of La Paz, in the afternoon, after the president of the Senate, Adriana Salvatierra, had been detained and the self-proclaimed president Jeanine Añez had appointed a new military leadership.

Events are happening at dizzying speed in Bolivia. The bloc carrying out the coup d’état has taken a series of steps to carry them forward. Añez’s self-proclamation, gospel in hand and with the tricolor band placed by the Bolivian Armed Force was one of them. On Wednesday, the next one took place, that of fictifying the government, that means putting oneself in a position to give orders. These steps are paradoxical: while they are trying to prove that there is a new government adhering to the laws, the unconstitutional way in which they do so testifies to the dimension of state slaughter. Not only for analysts, parties and diplomats, but for a segment of the population that regards self-proclamation as impossible to justify democratically.

That was reflected in the uprising in the city of El Alto that began on Monday, which this Wednesday began as a massive assembly and then descended in a unified manner to La Paz. The number of people mobilized is growing, and their radicalism is consolidating. The situation in this key territory of Bolivian history and political dynamics reflects the tensions and unity. On the one hand, the mobilizations are characterized by two indisputable points of unity: the defense of the Whipala that was trampled by the coup plotters – “it is the revolution of the Whipalas,” said an Aymara leader – as well as the fact that Añez, who made declarations against the indigenous peoples, must leave an illegal presidency.

On the other hand, there is a debate: the return of Evo Morales. One group is chanting it, asking for it and struggling to make it a reality, while another affirms that they do not belong to the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) – “we are not masists,” they say-, but they are clear that they must confront the coup d’état that does not distinguish between masists or no masists, and equally persecutes, represses and murders. This situation seems to be in an upward spiral where police violence reinforces the uprising. There have already been two deaths in El Alto -possibly three- and the prolonged crackdown lasting hours this Wednesday exacerbates the already clear separation: El Alto, the Whipala, the indigenous nations, against the coup d’état led by those who despise and humiliate them.

The direction of the coup attempts to build messages in response to this, such as placing Whipalas on top of military tanks, or broadcasting videos of Fernando Camacho – the main civilian and business face of the coup – and Añez where they claim to be united and respect diversity and lawhipala. The messages do not produce the expected effect and the conformation of a process of resistance-advance. It is not only in El Alto, but also in rural areas, with local mobilizations, in highways, cities, and other areas that converge toward the city of La Paz, where the Ponchos Rojos arrived on Wednesday. Will there be a siege of La Paz? It is one of the main fears that we face at this time. Fear is precisely what drives many who support the coup, celebrate it, and organize themselves in their middle class and wealthy neighborhoods to defend themselves from what they see as the invasion of El Alto by the Indigenous people. Fear and revenge are two of the forces that are driving the coup. The overthrow of Morales had several objectives, among which was to return to the configuration of the country lost to the ruling classes: a Bolivia governed by them and for them.

They are advancing in that objective, and on Wednesday night eleven ministers of the new cabinet were appointed after the crackdowns and the news of the dead. According to several newspapers, there were two: one in Montero and another in Yapacaní, in the department of Santa Cruz. News of repression, persecution, arrests, gunfire against demonstrators are multiplying in social networks, but speed, censorship, the rupture of the rule of law and the lack of government open a field of impunity that appears to have no limits. Who commanded the Bolivian Armed Forces until tonight? Who commands the right-wing armed groups that have lists of masists to be assassinated? The process of consolidation of the coup is advancing in its steps and has international backing.

In addition to the U.S. government and the secretary of the Organization of American States, Luis Almagro, the Colombian government also joined, and the high representative of the European Union’s foreign policy, Federica Mogherini, supported Añez’s appointment as interim president. The next step of the coup will be to advance the legislative power, where the MAS has the majority in both chambers. While that takes place, the resistance process will grow, spurred by demands, indignations and forces, uncertain about its direction and strategy for confronting the coup.

Source: Internationalist 360°

Repression increases in Bolivia against Evo Morales’ supporters

La Paz, Nov. 13 (Prensa Latina) Bolivian police today violently prevented Senator Adriana Salvatierra from entering Parliament as evidence of increased repression against Evo Morales’ supporters.

The official asked the colonel in charge of the supposed security of the facility to allow them access to begin their work and restore the constitutional order of the South American country.

Through the social network Twitter, a video began to circulate showing the confrontation between the police and Salvatierra who was willing to hold the parliamentary session in order to assume the presidency of the plurinational State.

Those mobilized in the Bolivian capital in repudiation of the self-proclamation of the vice-president of the Senate, Jeanine Añez, as interim president of the country condemned the presence of snipers in the streets, and assert that the right wants the extermination of the native communities.

They also denounced the dropping of tear gas bombs against members of the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) near the Legislative Assembly.

In this regard, the indigenous representatives notified that a large military contingent was headed towards the province of Chapare to repress the mobilizations denouncing the coup d’état against the constitutional president of Bolivia.
Residents of that community, one of the 16 provinces of the department of Cochabamba, requested help through Twitter after the cold-blooded murders of the indigenous people by members of the armed forces.

They also condemned the silence of the national press and explained that helicopters shoot indiscriminately at the population of the area.

In an interview with the Telesur, President Morales pointed out that ‘it seems it is now a crime to be indigenous. I ask the state security forces not to stain themselves with the blood of the people’.

From Mexico, the MAS leader emphasized the need to resolve the nation’s political differences through peaceful dialogue.

“I urge the police not to threaten the peoples’ lives; weapons are not to intimidate the people. To the mobilized, take care of your lives, do not take risks”.

Police and demonstrators clash in the center of La Paz, Bolivia

La Paz, Nov. 13 (Prensa Latina) Police and demonstrators who do not recognize the self-proclaimed president Jeanine Áñez clashed this afternoon in the center of the capital, according to witnesses.

Television media also show uniformed officers repressing protesters with tear gas and antiriot tactics to quell the peaceful protest of residents of El Alto, who are calling for Añez’s resignation.

At the beginning of the day hundreds of people, many members of the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS), ‘ponchos rojo’ from the city of El Alto and ordinary citizens, advanced towards Plaza Murillo, located in front of the Parliament, and where later on, in the presidential palace Quemados, the new military leadership of the nation was sworn in.

The directive body of the military was composed of Major General Carlos Orellana Centellas, as Commander of the Armed Forces of the country, instead of William Kaliman, who served when the civil-military coup against Evo Morales took place.

The new military leadership also includes Major General Pablo Arturo Guerra Camacho, Chief of Staff; Brigadier General Iván Patricio Inchauste, Commander of the Army; General Ciro Orlando Álvarez Guzmán, Air Force; and Rear Admiral Moisés Orlando Mejía Heredia, of the Bolivian Navy.

The ceremony was presided over by Áñez while in the surrounding area groups of people tried to advance on the seat of Parliament.

According to the latest reports released by the Ombudsman’s Office, since October 20, the day of the elections, clashes resulted in eight deaths, 508 injuries and 460 arrests following different incidents.

Among the victims is Herbert Antela, commander of the special operations unit of the La Paz Police, after an accident last Sunday on a city highway when he was trying to control protests.

In the city of Cochabamba, where clashes are taking place today, three people were reported killed.

jha/lb

Source Prensa Latina/Internationalist 360°

As news spread of the Nov. 10 right-wing coup against President Evo Morales, the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) and Indigenous communities of Bolivia, anti-imperialists and progressive forces worldwide prepared to take action. In the U.S., Struggle-La Lucha newspaper and the Socialist Unity Party immediately issued a call for emergency actions to “Defend the Life of Evo Morales and Stop the U.S.-Fascist Coup” from Nov. 11-17.

Baltimore

On Nov. 11, the Socialist Unity Party in Baltimore called an emergency demonstration to condemn the U.S.-backed coup in Bolivia and to defend the life and freedom of Evo Morales. A small crowd gathered at the foot of the Washington Monument in Mount Vernon Place to rally behind a banner that read, “No coup in Bolivia — Defend Evo Morales.”

Representatives of the organizations present, including the People’s Power Assembly, Youth Against War and Racism, the Black Alliance for Peace, the Answer Coalition, the Malaya Movement Baltimore, Friends of Latin America and the Baltimore Green Party, addressed the crowd. Speakers made connections between imperialist war and U.S. interventions abroad, and racist and sexist oppression at home. 

Everyone agreed: solidarity and unity among anti-imperialists is necessary now to put a stop to the terror being wrought by the U.S. and the war profiteers.

https://www.facebook.com/yawrbaltimore/videos/569077760590918/

Los Angeles

An emergency demonstration was held Nov. 11 at the Bolivian Consulate in the Koreatown section of Los Angeles. Well over 100 activists formed a loud and militant picket line with chants demanding an end to the U.S.-backed coup and pledging solidarity to Evo Morales and all the Indigenous people of Bolivia forced to endure this racist attack against their self-determination. 

The action was initiated by Unión del Barrio, the Harriet Tubman Center for Social Justice and the Socialist Unity Party/Partido por el Socialismo Unido, and joined by other organizations, including Frente Indígena de Organizaciones Binacionales, the American Indian Movement SoCal, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, the FMLN (Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front) and MEChA de UCLA. Maria Flores of UdB and Jefferson Azevedo of SUP/PSU chaired the rally. 

A much smaller crowd of pro-U.S. imperialism, anti-Morales right-wingers tried to shut down the action, but were met with a wall of sound and bodies refusing their encroachment into the demonstration, forcing them to eventually leave. 

Corporate media outlets were also present covering the demonstration. The event was live-streamed and photos were constantly being posted to social media. Reflecting on the success of the action, Unión del Barrio later noted on the Facebook event page: “It was beautiful to see so many leftist and indigenous organizations in LA unite to stand in solidarity with Evo Morales and the people of Bolivia!”

https://www.facebook.com/udblosangeles/videos/3355964501110732/

New York

Groups affiliated with the Venezuela Rapid Response Network held an emergency protest against the coup in Bolivia during the evening rush hour on Nov. 11. Hundreds turned out at the Bolivarian Mission to the United Nations in Midtown Manhattan and filled an entire city block between 42nd and 43rd streets with a noisy sidewalk picket line. 

Protesters chanting “USA! CIA! Hands off Bolivia!” carried Wiphala flags symbolizing the role of Indigenous Bolivians in the government of Evo Morales, and held signs and banners alerting passersby to the threats against the life of Bolivia’s legitimate president. As protesters gathered, the news was just breaking that Morales and Vice President Álvaro García had accepted an offer of political asylum from the government of Mexico because, as the MAS reported, there was an active assassination plot against them by the Bolivian police.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who praised the racist, anti-people coup as a triumph of “democracy,” was in New York for a Veterans Day event. Protesters decided to take their message directly to Trump Tower, where they made clear that the White House and U.S. Congress would be held responsible for the threat to Bolivia’s sovereignty and Evo’s life.

Fiery talks were given near Trump’s Tower of Greed by Roger Wareham of the December 12th Movement, Lucy Pagoada-Quesada of the Libre Party of Honduras and Nikki Gulay of BAYAN USA. Representatives of Brazil’s Lula Livre movement, the Answer Coalition, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization and others offered words of solidarity and fightback. 

Speaking for Struggle-La Lucha, protest organizer Bill Dores said, “On Nov. 10, 1898, in Wilmington, N.C., the Ku Klux Klan overthrew the last of the elected Black Reconstruction governments that fought for the workers and poor, Black and white and Native. And yesterday, Nov. 10, 2019, the Indigenous-led government of Evo Morales in Bolivia was overthrown, because it also fought for the poor. They want to unleash the same kind of terror that was unleashed in the South against Black people. 

“We stand with Evo Morales, the Movement Toward Socialism and the Indigenous-led struggle in the Plurinational State of Bolivia, because they are fighting for all of the working class and the poor. It’s one struggle all over the world.”

Organizations from the Rapid Response group are planning another action for Saturday, Nov. 16, beginning at 1 p.m. at 10 Columbus Circle, the New York headquarters of CNN and the Time Warner media monopoly. 

https://www.facebook.com/strugglelalucha/videos/1534003430073747/

Demonstrations have been held in many other cities, including Chicago, Miami, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. More protests are planned. For updates, visit the events page at Struggle-La-Lucha.org.

Bayani, John Parker and Greg Butterfield contributed to this report.

SLL photos: Emma Rose, Maggie Vascassenno, Greg Butterfield

On Nov. 9, some 20 protesters gathered outside the headquarters of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office in Bel Air, Md., to demand truth and justice for Marlyn Barnes and all prisoners. 

Barnes, an African American father of five, died at the age of 30 under suspicious circumstances at the Harford County Detention Center on April 10, 2019. 

The crowd included several members of the Barnes family and activists from across the state of Maryland. Some family members, including Marlyn’s aunt, traveled from as far as Durham, N.C., to join the demonstration. 

The Barnes family and the community are committed to demanding an end to racism and inhumane conditions prevalent in the Harford County correctional system, which claimed the life of Marlyn Barnes. 

Friday, November 15, 2019 at 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM EST

Gateway Center (Newark)
Newark, New Jersey 07102

Mass protest against US backed coup on Bolivia

One Gateway, Newark NJ, location of this event – is the Newark headquarters for US Senators Menendez and Booker who bear direct responsibility for representing our interests on US foreign policy toward Bolivia.

Menendez and two other US Senators have been cited in audio evidence, reportedly as having directly signaled to the right wing elements that the US is backing – US support for this violent coup operation.

We will make our opposition loud and clear to US support for this extreme right wing and violent coup operation.

We will demand the restoration of constitutional rule and the restoration of Evo Morales to his rightful position as elected president of Bolivia.

We will demand NO US support or recognition of the illegitimate Golpista (coup) installed regime.

And we will assert our support and solidarity for the struggles of the Indigenous people including the recognition of their historic rights to land and resources, justice for the victims of the right wing violence, and a restoration of the process toward a more equitable distribution of land and resources to the Bolivian people.

On Facebook

Thursday, November 14, 2019 at 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST

Bloomington and Lake Street

US Hands Off Bolivia Protest

Thursday, November 14th @ 5pm

Bloomington & Lake Street, Minneapolis

*Support Democratically Elected President Evo Morales!
*Say NO to Right Wing Coups
*US Out of Latin America

We are calling an emergency response protest to stand with Bolivia and show our opposition to US intervention in Bolivia. This action is one of many protests happening all over the world in solidarity with the progressive movements of Bolivia.

Co-sponsored by the Anti-War Committee and Women Against Military Madness.

On Facebook