On February 12, 2014 (National Youth Day in Venezuela) millions of Venezuelan students peacefully protested the social and economic crisis that has created an unbearable insecurity in the country occurring largely due to the unconstitutional government. The final straw was when opposition leader, Leopoldo Lopez, willingly turned himself in under the accusation and warrant for his arrest for “allegedly” inciting terrorism, leading anti-government protests and for the death of three student protestors. This further fueled the opposition leaders and citizens to rally behind him and in the ongoing days, Venezuelans have continued to protest, while people from all over the world have been peacefully protesting and showing their support for the people of Venezuela who are experiencing this grave turmoil.

This tension between the Chavistas and the Opposition has been building up most heavily ever since the death of Hugo Chavez and election of Nicolas Maduro against opposition leader Henrique Capriles in 2013. There has been a stark contrast in the response of citizens between Chavez’s presidency and Maduro’s; however, Venezuela has been dealing with long-standing issues of unconstitutionality, fraud, corruption, crime and terror for many years now.

Before I continue, I want to express some information that may sometimes be left out of the conversation about the Venezuelan ideologies that have transitioned over the years… Venezuela had a democratic government for many years but it did not necessarily ‘live up to its’ expectations’–there was some initial form of corruption, which eventually led to a coup attempt in 1992 by Hugo Chavez and other military personnel against the democratic presidency of Carlos Andres Perez. Although he was imprisoned for some time, he was pardoned and legitimately won the election in 1998. Chavez’s fundamental ideology consisted of a “Bolivarianism and Socialism of the 21st Century,” which involved employing socialist reforms, such as the nationalization of key industries and an attempt to reduce poverty through various government-led initiatives. However, throughout his campaigns and continuous promises to create a nation of low poverty, his regime turned completely leftist, and for the first time in Venezuela, he began to create a division between people, a hatred which wasn’t there before. Through his antics, policies and Bolivarian Revolution, he fostered a divide between the poor, the middle class and the rich, which created deep, deep resentment between the classes. He utilized this “Revolution” as a gateway into stripping people of their property and redistributing the wealth across the country (sound familiar, Cubanos?).

Along with an extremely corrupt system, Chavez’s 14 years in power also included changes to president terms (removal of term limits) and control of the majority of free press and eventually shutting it down (Radio Caracas Television, shut down; this continued until the last private media sector, Globovision, was bought out by the government). This paved the way for his regime to take complete control of the judicial, military and legislative system by taking money away from the people of Venezuela to give to other governments in order to gain international support and a wider platform for this “Bolivarian Revolution.”

Throughout all of this, Nicolas Maduro–one of Chavez’s right-hand men– served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2006-2013, and Vice President of Venezuela from 2012-2013.

It is truly unclear when Chavez passed away, and many speculate that he passed away weeks before the announcement was made but that the government was concocting a plan to place Maduro as President. In the elections of Capriles vs. Maduro, the council announced that Maduro won by a 50.66% of the votes, and thus, Capriles lost by 49.07% of the votes. This narrow margin gave way for a storm of debate about whether the results were legitimate (many still believing they were not), but nonetheless, Maduro became President of Venezuela. Maduro, a former bus driver with just a high school education, became the President and prime leader of Venezuela, leaving many to say, he is not qualified for the presidency… (amongst other things).

Now, thousands of murders, and kidnappings later, a corruption index of 160/177 (177 being the worst–http://www.transparency.org/country#idx99), soaring inflation, rising poverty levels, a crumbling infrastructure, rampant corruption and complete censorship of the press…. what exactly has this “Bolivarian Revolution” accomplished?

A country in shambles.

I left Venezuela in 1996, at just 6 years old, when my father decided that he did not want my sister and I to grow up in a country entrenched with uprising crime and insecurity.

As a proud Venezuelan residing in the United States, I have lived with this duality of sorts all of my life. But through annual visits to Venezuela, constant communication with family and friends from Venezuela and continuous experiences, I can say with affirmation: I am Venezuelan. I live in the United States but I am Venezuelan.

That is why the most recent outbreak of protests in my country have left me to say: What can I do?

I can say with all my truth that I ache for my country. I ache for my family and friends who live in a country that represses, censors and slaughters its’ own people but calls itself a ‘democracy.’ I ache for those who feel that they cannot voice their opinions, in fear that they or their family members will be a target of the government’s regime. I ache that I am not there to fight alongside those who have poured their heart and soul into the repairing of an extremely broken country.

When I see images of the Guardia Nacional (Venezuela’s ‘military’), and the ‘Colectivos’ Chavistas (a radical formation from Chavez’s presidency, which was formed to serve the role of organizers for his socialist plans) senselessly murdering Venezuela citizens, I ache. When I hear that the ‘Colectivos’ say they want “peace” but will “defend with life and if necessary with weapons” the Bolivarian Revolution, I ache. When I hear about the Tupamaro’s of Venezuela (in simplistic terms, a gang or ‘guerilla’ of motorcyclists rampaging about on the streets), breaking into citizen’s home and firing shots at innocent people, I ache.

These past few weeks have been a tumultuous battle between peaceful protestors who are absolutely ready for a change in Venezuela and Bolivarian Revolutionaries responding with violence, with no space for mediation, negotiation and conversation.

Not only do I ache for Venezuela, but I ache, and even anger for the ignorance of many people who speak without knowing.

Prime example, that yes, I must share: After leaving the protest by the Simon Bolivar Statute in Central Park, NYC, a seemingly homeless male standing but the subway started to yell at my family and I, “HUGO CHAVEZ! HUGO CHAVEZ FOREVER!” amongst other absurdities. Clearly, we were the target of his comments since we were dressed with the Venezuelan colors, Venezuelan hats, and proudly holding our peaceful protest signs. But to this man, I question, do you really know what’s going on? Have you listened to both sides, done your research, held a conversation or even know people from that country? It baffles me the level of ignorance that permeates everywhere and the idea that we are not able to coherently express our opinions in a more peaceful manner. On some level I am guilty too- I responded by giving him the thumbs up and saying twice, “Live in Venezuela,” without considering that perhaps it is best not to engage.

And to this lengthy post, I will conclude, by saying that all I can do from overseas, I am going to do. I will call the White House, protest, blog, spread the word and anything else in the hopes that Venezuela will finally…. and in due time… find its’ well-deserving peace and democracy. With that, I say, let us not only #PrayForVenezuela, but let us talk, share, converse, protest, voice our opinions, reflect and spread the word about our brothers and sisters dying mercilessly at the hands of the very UNconstitutional government of our beautiful Venezuela.