Venezuelan National Assembly deputies inaugurate the preparatory meeting for a world congress against fascism on September 5, 2024. Photo: National Assembly of Venezuela.
The vice president of Venezuela’s National Assembly, Deputy Pedro Infante, announced that Venezuela will host a world congress for the debate and struggle against fascism for peace and humanity on September 10 and 11.
According to a press release from the National Assembly on Thursday, September 5, Infante reported that the parliament hosted the Preparatory Meeting for the organization of the National Antifascist Front and the creation of the Committee of Victims of Fascism. Deputies, academics, intellectuals, community leaders, and representatives of social and political organizations participated in the meeting.
This meeting was coordinated by the second vice president of the National Assembly, América Pérez; Deputy Tania Díaz; the deputy foreign affairs minister for Latin America, Rander Peña; the director of the Pedro Gual Institute of Diplomatic Studies, Pedro Sassone; and the minister of Missions and Great Missions, Erika Farías.
Deputy Infante commented that the purpose of the National Antifascist Front is to combat hatred and violence as mechanisms of political action, assuming the instructions of President Nicolás Maduro in this regard.
Infante added that a Committee of Victims of Fascism will be created, allowing the registration of those who have suffered aggressions in their communities in the post-electoral violence of July 28 to 30.
During the preparatory meeting, several proposals were discussed, including the creation of a center for the study and research of fascism; the creation of diploma courses, workshops and lectures on fascism; and the construction of a movement to cultivate peace, value, and respect for human rights.
A national seminar was held on Friday, September 6, to “conceptualize fascism, cyber-fascism, and similar expressions,” to listen to the people’s experiences, and to disseminate the policies of the Venezuelan State to protect the people from fascism.
Infante added that a cultural activity is scheduled for Saturday, which includes the creation of murals about the fight against fascism. On Monday, September 9, there will be a meeting to finalize the proposals presented at the World Congress against Fascism. The meeting will be attended by more than 400 delegates from all over Venezuela.
Testimonies of victims
The preparatory meeting was attended by victims of postelectoral fascism, some of whom shared their experiences.
A worker of the El Quemaito Comprehensive Diagnostic Center in Guatire discussed how she was shot on July 29 when she went out to defend the healthcare center.
“We felt a lot of impotence and pain. That sort of thing had never happened at the center. Thanks to God and the conscience of brave people, we have been able to move forward together with our President Nicolás Maduro,” she said.
Nirida Rodríguez, who works at the Catia La Mar Community Market in La Guaira state, thanked the national government “for all the help it provided to face the fascist onslaught.”
Ligia Olivares, a teacher at a sports complex, said that the fascists wanted to take away the people’s rights to education, sports, and a better quality of life.
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/SC/SF
