On Feb. 14, the Party for Socialism and Liberation and Connecticut immigrant rights organization Unidad Latina en Accion teamed up to host a rally of support for Vene zuela.

Around 30 people braved the cold to attend the rally. After an intro with Chavista music, PSL organizer Norm Clement kicked off the event with an explanation of the situation in Venezuela.

“We’re here to say no U.S. intervention in Venezuela, no U.S. intervention in Latin America,” Clement said. “Guaidó is just a puppet. How can someone who has never had one vote cast for him by the people of Venezuela be the president?”

ULA organizer John Lugo spoke to the U.S. government’s role in the unrest in Venezuela. He explained that despite what the media might say, economic issues in Venezuela are largely fomented by the U.S., which has over 800 military bases around the world and has been involved in open and covert regime change operations all over Latin America.

PSL organizer and journalist Chardonnay Merlot told a personal story of her experience with socialist culture in Venezuela. She told attendees about having to go to an urgent care center in Venezuela and how exasperated the healthcare workers there became when she asked how much she would have to pay. “The doctor went on for five minutes,” Merlot said. “She said, ‘Everything with you Americans is about money. In Venezuela, we take care of people. We take care of people for free.’ That is the love the Venezuelan people, the masses have. That is what the masses are in the streets for. Don’t be fooled by what you’re seeing in the media, because the media does not understand this love. In fact, they’re trying very hard to fight against this love. They’re fighting hard to sell you a war. It’s funny — they say the Venezuelan system doesn’t work. It was working just fine until the U.S. started meddling with it.”

Attendees held signs reading “U.S. Out of Latin America” and “The Workers’ Struggle Has No Borders” and chanted, “Hands off Venezuela!” and “¡Presidente Maduro, al Yanqui dale duro!” Many passers-by and drivers expressed support for the demonstration by beeping and raising their fists. Commuters on the busy street stopped to listen to the speakers and thanked the organizers for sharing information that wasn’t being presented in mainstream media. One driver rolled down their window and shouted, “Yes! Maduro!”

ULA and PSL are continuing to work together to mobilize Connecticut residents to join a caravan of buses headed to Washington, D.C. on March 16. There, organizers and attendees from at least 12 different states and dozens of organizations will be marching on the capital to demand U.S. hands off Venezuela. Learn more about this action and transportation in your area here.