Demonstrators are filling the streets. Traffic is at a crawl. Protesters burn rubbish and debris to stand as flaming barricades while security forces fire bullets and tear gas. Hundreds of Venezuelan citizens are being injured by their own government, and the death toll is at least 17, according to Bloomberg News. 
Venezuela has been in total crisis mode since early February, which is when videos of large student protests and mass chaos became viral on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. This mess began when Venezuelan college students protested a sexual assault case to which the police department failed to respond, according to The New York Times. Students began protesting peacefully, asking for security from the state. The government responded with brutal suppression. What ensued was the violence that we’re seeing on all these videos across the web. Despite the Venezuelan government’s attempts to “defeat destabilization plans” by monitoring and block online services and social media, photos and videos have leaked internationally, according to International Business Times. Videos show police and military personnel blatantly attacking, in some cases with harmful weapons, peaceful demonstrators that have no way of defending themselves.
What started as a student-led protest has evolved into a wide public concern and the issues have expanded greatly since the sexual assault case. The public has come together to protest the ongoing spread of violent crimes and the shortage of goods such as milk and toilet paper, according to The New York Times. President Nicolas Maduro is calling it an “economic war,” according to Reuters. This social unrest didn’t just begin; it has been going on for years. Unjust public treatment has been occurring in Venezuela since the Fidel Castro era, and only now has the rest of the world truly acknowledged this as an issue.
Are we, by taking no action yet encouraging these large protests, at fault? The U.S. government has not yet officially intervened in the civil unrest in Venezuela. It has, however, been accused by Venezuelan officials of enticing the violence that goes on during many of these demonstrations, according to RT News. Some U.S. political leaders have expressed their wish to see Venezuela become a democratic nation and support, by word of mouth, the demonstrations of the people. One of these leaders, State Department Spokesman Jen Psaki, said, “[America supports] human rights and fundamental freedoms — including freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly — in Venezuela as we do in countries around the world,” according to RT News. This moral support, while a step in the right direction and helpful, doesn’t help the people who are out protesting and withstanding the brutality of their own government. They need real, tangible help and intervention.
“America should help us find peace and form a democratic government which can help us improve our country in all aspects,” said Danilo Nuñez, a native Venezuelan student and a freshman international business and entrepreneurship major. He expressed how crucial it is to have support from around the world, not just sympathy. It’s easy to watch a five-minute video with terrifying clips and depressing narration and post a Facebook status or a Tweet about how wrong it is, moving on with your life shortly afterwards.
Although more difficult, it’s important to pursue a course of action rather than simply pitying them on social media. We should use that emotion we feel when we watch these videos and express empathy rather than sympathy. Promoting empathy and need for action was the basis of an emotional plea by freshman economics major and Venezuelan student Viviana Tedino. “Other countries should definitely help. I know it is a very sensitive issue, but in my country, the military, those who once swore to protect us, are killing us,” Tedino said.
Freshman and international business major Christopher Bonilla gave a differing perspective. “Between school,work and other extra curriculars, it’s hard to find the time to help, especially when students can’t help them out directly because of location differences,” Bonilla said.
This is where I think he is wrong. Of course we can’t join the front lines of the protesters, but we are capable of becoming passionate advocates for democracy in Venezuela. Danilo feels the same way. He thinks students at UT should “spread everything about what’s going on.” There are endless possibilities on how to get involved and they don’t require complete sacrifice of your time. One that has already taken place on a small scale in cities around the country is to have a day of peaceful demonstration on every campus of every university in the country. We should stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Venezuela who risk their lives every day fighting for a better future and a country of which they can be proud. Also, we should at all times possible spread awareness, which we’ve already started on social media. This is crucial. The more people that know what’s happening on a daily basis, the more educated we will be to handle situations like these when they arise.
Corruption runs skin deep in Venezuela, and realistically, it may take years before this problem is resolved for good and many more years for the people of Venezuela to be comfortable with the outcome. But that doesn’t mean we should just let this play out on its own with so many being hurt. We must be proactive as a generation; this is our chance to prove to the world our love and compassion. Despite all that has been said of our social-media-driven culture, we can finally use it to a great advantage. Someday, I hope we look back on this tragedy and we can smile knowing there is a democratic Venezuela and a peaceful society. One day, I hope this destruction and violence will evolve into democracy and progress.
Jorge Echavarria can be reached at jorge.echavarria@spartans.ut.edu