Standing in solidarity

Early this week, tens of thousands of university students in Venezuela used the power of mass marching to have their voices heard, protesting the planned constitutional changes that would expand President Hugo Chavez’s power in ways previously outlawed by the country’s constitution. The students not only marched in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, but also in at least six other cities around the country, in perhaps one of the strongest demonstrations of genuine public outcry in the country’s history.\nSadly, as has been the case with many protests against the government in Venezuela, four gunmen opened fire on the gathering students. The gunmen were wearing ski masks and have yet to be identified, but protest organizers accuse the gunmen of belonging to Chavez-backed urban militias. Perhaps most worrisome, it appears that the Venezuelan police stood by as the shootings began, even allowing gunmen on motorcycles to enter the university grounds. Luckily, no protesters were killed due to direct gunfire, but protesters worry that this political bullying could have chilling effects on the country’s freedom of speech, an area that seems to decline with every power grab by the Venezuelan president.\nMass protests are an important part of any country’s free speech rights. All over the world, people from every age and political leaning gather to have their voices heard in what can be described as the most powerful display of political force. Protests and marches have proved valuable in changing government policies all over the world, from the March on Washington to protests in Tiananmen Square. \nWith this ability threatened, the opposition to Chavez is finding it more and more difficult to get its message out. Last April, Chavez closed the oldest private television station in the country, claiming that the station was conspiring against the regime. The station was said to be one of the last outlets for opposition to voice its opinion. Human Rights Watch, one of the most respected human rights organizations in the world, has also received credible reports of government torture and beatings of protesters.\nWith this most recent example of curtailing freedom of speech in Venezuela, it is the opinion of the editorial board that American students should stand with the students of Venezuela who gathered peacefully in front of the Supreme Court in a powerful statement of opposition and political independence. As American college students, we are fortunate to live and study in an educational system that encourages free and open dialogue. And although the students on this campus all have a wide variety of opinions regarding Chavez’s politics, it is essential that we support our Venezuelan counterparts in their goal of free speech and assembly without the repercussion of deadly force. With the constant fear of political oppression and bodily harm, the marching students in Venezuela find themselves in a fight that could have a lasting effect on the country and region. So do we as students support them in their quest for intellectual and political freedom? We can and we must.