A Collection of Writing by Venezuelans about Venezuela in the wake of the January US military aggression.

Any writing about Venezuela from an international perspective must address, but not center, U.S. imperialism: the long-term economic warfare of sanctions imposed on civilian populations; the intersecting power of oil, military-industrial, and banking cartels extracting wealth for decades; as well as Venezuela’s internal political divisions and repression; and, at the same time, the Venezuelan people’s strength and drive for self-determination. We have seen international analysis that falsely frame criticism of Maduro as support for U.S. intervention—an accusation not reflected in any of the writing we have received from Venezuelans themselves.

We recognize the lies and State Department talking points that flatten the reality of Maduro’s government, just as we recognize how Western media whitewashes U.S. intervention and violent regime change. At the same time, we must take seriously Venezuelans’ accounts of political repression, thousands of political prisoners, the nearly 8 million people who have left the country, as well as the belief held by others that a socialist government, despite its failures, remains preferable to capitalism. These realities cannot be separated into neat causes.

We will continue to center voices that reject simplistic binaries and prioritize the lived experience, analysis, and knowledge of Venezuelans who are most affected and for whom this is not an academic exercise.