Edinburgh demonstration this weekend against Donald Trump's action in Venezuela
A demonstration is planned outside the American consulate in Edinburgh this weekend against Donald Trump's action in Venezuela.
The protest, scheduled for 11am on Saturday, January 10, is being organised by Stop the War Scotland, with the support of the Scottish Trade Union Congress, Scottish Venezuela Solidarity Campaign and the Scottish Cuba Solidarity Campaign.
Stop the War Scotland said the demonstration would be demanding the immediate release of President Nicolas Maduro and an end to US aggression in Venezuela, across the Americas, and beyond.
They will also call for an end to UK "collusion" with the Trump administration’s actions, and for the Scottish Government to suspend cooperation with the US Government until international law is respected and attacks cease.
Sophie Johnson, secretary of Stop the War Scotland, described the bombing of Venezuela and the seizing of the president as an open act of military aggression and imperial domination.
She said: "Trump has made no pretence of following international law and boasts that he is grabbing oil and asserting US sovereignty over the entire American hemisphere.
“Yet despite the openly offensive and criminal nature of these attacks, including the abduction of the head of state of a sovereign, independent country, the UK Government meekly bows to US power.
"The failure of US allies to oppose these acts has emboldened Trump to threaten numerous other governments in North and South America, and even to threaten NATO member Denmark over Greenland, which the US Government asserts it wishes to take-over. The spineless collusion of our government in this naked imperialism is aiding and abetting Trump.
“In Scotland, John Swinney has acknowledged the illegality of these acts, but pledged no action. It’s time for the Scottish Government to end its trade talks with the US until aggression ceases and international law is complied with.
“Failure to confront Trump today will mean threats continue to multiply. These events show that, more than ever, we need a powerful anti-war movement to hold our leaders accountable and halt the rapid descent into global conflict.”