"No Mas" to US Coups
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The coup in Bolivia is another example of how American foreign policy creates refugees to the United States.
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Trump and republicans propose immigration policies for the sole purpose of terrorizing refugees, their families and even legal U.S. residents. The foreign policy comes full circle by putting children in cages.
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Last month, Evo Morales won re-election to the Presidency by 10 points. However, the OAS baselessly claimed that there were voting irregularities.
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For centuries in Bolivia, a small elite group controlled most of the resources and exploited the citizenry to the point of even privatizing water. (Sound familiar?). The citizens tried to harvest rainwater, but Bechtel, a US company, claimed it owned that too! In 2005, a cocoa farmer, Evo Morales ran on the platform of economic equality and he ended up winning decisively.
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Morales' party MAS is composed of a very diverse working class: teachers, peasants, doctors, students, labor unions, and priests, demanded higher wages, better working conditions, more control over their own destiny by liberating their economy from complete corporate dominance.
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Over the past 13 years of Morales' presidency, various international corporations have fought back and continuously sought to undermine the democratically elected government. Just as they’ve done throughout history.
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This weekend, an army general and police chief asked him to resign. When someone with control of a military force armed with tanks and guns asks you to do something, it's best taken seriously. It's a death threat. Morales only got the decency of a request first because he is a massively popular president.
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The opposition leader, Fernando Camacho, declared “Bolivia belongs to Jesus and we will never have Pachamama (mother earth for the first nations) in the palace again." This was a racist remark against the indigenous people and Morales, the nation's first indigenous president.
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Two days ago, a Bolivian Senator Jeanine Anez “declared” herself president. In a Democracy, one cannot “declare” themselves president. We have uncovered racist tweets describing the indigenous population as “Satanic.” On top of it, within three days, the poor and the indigenous people are facing repression and violence from the police. There’s been escalation there
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This coup is financially motivated: Bolivia has the world’s largest supply of lithium, which is what we need to make batteries for electric cars. On a totally, I’m sure unrelated note, Tesla stocks are on the rise:
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If this is a corporate takeover, there must be a full investigation. Predatory capitalism is not what our nation is about.
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Perhaps the worst part - most of the Democratic party has been silent on this very undemocratic human rights violations. Except for our usual champions of human rights: Ilhan Omar and AOC have been vocally calling this a coup. We need a Congress that will protect Democracy internationally. We need a Congress that will use diplomacy as a tool to prevent military coups like this from occurring. They can’t be alone on this battle - every Democrat in Congress should be speaking about this coup internationally.
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Today, I’m asking YOU to INVEST in a future Congress that will not only defend Democracy in the United States, but also, be willing to pressure internationally through diplomacy, other nations to protect Democracy. |
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In Congress, I will be among the first to demand that we protect human rights everywhere. This movement is about solidarity. This includes international solidarity with Democracy. Where there is oppression of Democracy, we must use diplomacy to fight the rise of the right wing. There must be a full investigation, and all diplomatic tools must be used to shut this military coup down.
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Sincerely,
P.S: Did you visit our new website yet?
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