Car with the branding of Venezuelan ride-sharing app Ridery. File photo.
A hate campaign against the Venezuelan ride-sharing app Ridery and its CEO, Gerson Gómez, was unleashed on social media platforms after Gómez appeared in a live broadcast alongside Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
In a video spread on social media this Thursday, April 18, President Maduro can be seen with his wife, Deputy Cilia Flores, waiting for a ride. Then, a car arrives driven by Ridery’s CEO, Gerson Gómez. During the ride to a technology fair, President Maduro discusses the importance of new technologies in strengthening the Venezuelan economy. At the same time, Gómez explains how he came up with the idea to fund the ride-sharing app that boomed after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Multiple messages emerged on social media platforms after the Venezuelan president arrived at a fair for tech entrepreneurs at the Teresa Carreño Theater in the Ridery car driven by the company’s CEO.
Miles de trabajadores de Ridery podrían perder trabajo tras un boicot ordenado por Comando de Campaña de Edmundo González.
Así actúa el fascismo y ni siquiera son gobierno.
Por eso, todos a votar masivamente por @NicolasMaduro este 28J. pic.twitter.com/2CzTbcFjqC
— Roi Lopez Rivas (@RoiLopezRivas) July 19, 2024
The video generated a campaign of hate messages, where supporters of Venezuela’s far-right opposition called for a boycott of the ride-sharing app, not considering that the company facilitated safe and fast transportation in Venezuela since the pandemic.
These displays of intolerance from the opposition sector also failed to consider how links between private companies and the State can be beneficial, especially in Venezuela’s sanctioned economy. It also evidences the hatred embedded in the far-right Venezuelan opposition, which is becoming more desperate as the presidential elections approach.
Furthermore, the campaign of hate indicates that the improbable victory for the opposition would not benefit entrepreneurs who are betting on Venezuela. This potential stigmatization of these companies could leave behind the ventures that have helped Venezuela’s economic recovery.
As is the case of Ridery, which was founded in 2021 and, to date, already has over 35,000 participating vehicles, including motorcycles and cars, working in 14 Venezuelan states.
Following the messages against Ridery and its CEO, President Maduro requested that the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) take action against the hate messages, which included threats to burn, shoot, and attack people.
“I absolutely condemn the intolerant and fascistic attacks. Let everyone draw their own conclusions. That is what I have been condemning. The hate campaign is filling a small group with hate so that they go out to burn the country, to kill,” President Maduro said on a TikTok livestream.
During the broadcast, President Maduro spoke about the attacks against Ridery after the video was released. He expressed his solidarity with all the workers, operators, and associates of Ridery. He also invited them to continue working and believing in a better future for Venezuela.
(RedRadioVE) by Ana Perdigón with Orinoco Tribune content
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/SF
