This week, the Black Alliance for Peace (BAP) released another statement, delving into why we as internationalists of African descent will never give up on defending the sovereignty and self-determination of another oppressed nation—the Venezuelan people. “The war and militarism being waged against us by the domestic military we call ‘the police’—along with the mass incarceration complex—is part of the global Pan European Colonial/Capitalist White Supremacist patriarchy that is now conspiring against the Bolivarian revolutionary process in Venezuela.”

Considering how dangerous a successful U.S. coup would be for Afro-Venezuelans, folks from that community reached out to us, asking for additional support. That’s what prompted this latest statement: Black Working Class Will Never Abandon Venezuela!

In fact, the drive for imperialist war is not confined to Venezuela. The increasingly wild stories that feed Russiagate are being used as bait to lure the people of the United States into what could potentially be a nuclear war with Russia—that would be devastating for all peoples of the world. BAP Coordinating Committee member Margaret Kimberley writes in her latest Freedom Rider column, “McCarthyism is back and it is being led by liberals.”

We continue our work to shut down AFRICOM and request that you continue sharing our petition online and circulate the physical version (find it here) in your schools, houses of worship, prisons and anywhere else you organize. For inspiration, check out BAP member and Black Agenda Report publisher Glen Ford’s public service announcement on the U.S. Out of Africa! campaign. Feel free to use the PSA in your community-radio programs and podcasts—and tag us online when you do!

We encourage BAP members and our allies in the struggle to organize local actions as part of the global mobilization on February 23 in solidarity with the people of Venezuela.

We also must continue our efforts to dismantle oppressive structures, such as NATO. BAP supports the national mobilizations to oppose NATO’s decision to celebrate its 70th anniversary in Washington, D.C., on April 4—that’s the same day as the 51st anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We see this as a desecration of Dr. King and the Black population’s opposition to war and imperialism.

The national mobilizations include:

  1. The No to NATO, War and Racism March, starting at Lafayette Square in front of the White House, 1 p.m., March 30;

  2. A Concert for Peace and to End War, sponsored by organizations including the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign, in Franklin Square in Washington, D.C., 1 p.m.-8 p.m., March 31;

  3. World Peace Council Anti-NATO Conference, St. Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal Church, Washington, D.C., 3 p.m.-7 p.m., March 31;

  4. No to NATO—Yes to Peace and Disarmament Counter Summit, location to be announced, all day April 2;

  5. No to NATO—Yes to Peace Festival, St. Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal Church, 12 p.m.-10 p.m., April 3;

  6. Procession from MLK Memorial to rally at Freedom Plaza, Washington, D.C., during the day, April 4, details to come;

  7. BAP’s 2nd Anniversary Event: No Compromise, No Retreat in the Fight to End Militarism and War, Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ, Washington, D.C., 7 p.m.-9 p.m., April 4

No compromise.

No retreat.

Struggle to win,
Ajamu, Jaribu, Margaret, Netfa, Paul, Vanessa and YahNé
Coordinating Committee
Black Alliance for Peace

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Photo credit: AP