DEMAND THE US:
RELEASE MADURO AND CELIA FLORES
RETURN ALL STOLEN OIL
PAY REPARATIONS TO VENEZUELA FOR DAMAGES
PAY REPARATIONS TO CUBA FOR LOSS OF LIFE
LIFT ALL SANCTIONS ON VENEZUELA
On January 3, 2026, the U.S. launched illegal, swift, and brutal attacks against the sovereign Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. What resulted was the capture of Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and the murder of at least 80 people. Among the dead are Venezuelan citizens, security forces, and 32 Cuban military personnel sent to defend Venezuela’s sovereignty. Southern Illinois Democratic Socialists of America (SIDSA) extends our deepest condolences to the families of those murdered, as well as to their respective countries which they died valiantly defending.
The stated purpose of kidnapping Maduro and Flores is so that they can stand for federal trial in New York City for alleged connections to the fictional Cartel de los Soles and other vague accusations. Despite the legal complications of a federal trial, we urge New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani to use all available means to ensure the safety of Maduro and Flores and to push for their release.
The aforementioned kidnapping has been justified by media personalities and government officials across the political spectrum by gesturing to Maduro’s supposed corruption and anti-democratic policies. Others have proposed that this all could have resulted from a pre-arranged deal, either with Maduro directly or other officials. We believe that regardless of what one believes about Venezuela, U.S. intervention will only harm the country and its people. We stand with the masses of Venezuelans opposing Maduro’s arrest, and with the international community standing against the U.S.’ blatant acts of aggression.
Maduro and Flores’ kidnapping has now given the U.S. increased confidence in their regime-change operations. Since the kidnapping, Trump has threatened Cuba, Mexico, Colombia, Iran, and Greenland. Additionally, the proposed plundering of Venezuelan resources for U.S. use threatens to severely hamper economies in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean who relied on trade with Venezuela.
Moves to acquire Venezuelan resources also signal greater conflicts on a global scale. China, one of Venezuela’s major trade partners, has long been in the U.S.’ sights. While Trump has promised China a share of Venezuelan oil, Xi Jinping has since denounced “unilateral and bullying acts” by the U.S. government. Whether either leader is serious is unclear. It is also unclear what effect this will have in the long run for the U.S.’ global position and global and inter-imperialist competition, but it points toward increased conflict benefiting only those owning resource extraction and war production companies.
We demand the following:
RELEASE MADURO AND FLORES
RETURN ALL STOLEN OIL
PAY REPARATIONS TO VENEZUELA FOR DAMAGES AND LOSS OF LIFE
PAY REPARATIONS TO CUBA FOR LOSS OF LIFE
LIFT ALL SANCTIONS ON VENEZUELA