Rodolfo Gonzalez Freedom Fund
Donation protected
As you may know, the political, economic and social situation in Venezuela during the last several months has been just horrible due to its criminal government. In February of this year, demonstrations began in protest against crime, inflation and product shortages. Accusations of police abuse during the unrest quickly became another motivation for the protests, and to date, over 3,700 people have been arrested for legally and pacifically protesting; nearly 800 have been injured, and at least 43 people (mostly students) have been killed by Venezuela's "security" forces. I have been, like the rest of my family both in the US and Venezuela, very vocal about this terrible situation, even before the protests began in February.
A recent in-country study by New York-based organization Human Rights Watch concluded that Venezuela has violated the rights of democratic protesters. They found strong evidence of serious human rights violations committed by Venezuelan security forces, which included violations of the right to life; torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment; violations to the rights to bodily integrity, security and liberty; and due process: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/venezuela0514_reportcover_web.pdf
On Saturday, April 26, my uncle (my mother's younger brother), and his family were arrested by "security" forces while they were in their homes. They were accused of "inciting hate" and other charges and taken into custody. Everyone, except for my uncle, has been given 'conditional' freedom and my uncle remains in jail being accused of very serious and grave crimes he did not commit. If found guilty, he is facing 20+ years of jail.
As you can imagine we are devastated about this situation and dealing with lawyers and other organizations to ensure justice is served. My uncle, Rodolfo Gonzalez (64), is a retired civil pilot who is a husband, a father and a grandfather, and like the rest of the Venezuelan people, want a better government and justice.
To help cover the high costs of my uncle's attorneys, we have set up this account to gather funds and send them to my aunt in Venezuela. I ask you to consider helping us by making a donation. Even $1 will help! I appreciate all your messages of support and kind words and have faith that justice will prevail all this nightmare will be over sooner rather than later.
A recent in-country study by New York-based organization Human Rights Watch concluded that Venezuela has violated the rights of democratic protesters. They found strong evidence of serious human rights violations committed by Venezuelan security forces, which included violations of the right to life; torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment; violations to the rights to bodily integrity, security and liberty; and due process: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/venezuela0514_reportcover_web.pdf
On Saturday, April 26, my uncle (my mother's younger brother), and his family were arrested by "security" forces while they were in their homes. They were accused of "inciting hate" and other charges and taken into custody. Everyone, except for my uncle, has been given 'conditional' freedom and my uncle remains in jail being accused of very serious and grave crimes he did not commit. If found guilty, he is facing 20+ years of jail.
As you can imagine we are devastated about this situation and dealing with lawyers and other organizations to ensure justice is served. My uncle, Rodolfo Gonzalez (64), is a retired civil pilot who is a husband, a father and a grandfather, and like the rest of the Venezuelan people, want a better government and justice.
To help cover the high costs of my uncle's attorneys, we have set up this account to gather funds and send them to my aunt in Venezuela. I ask you to consider helping us by making a donation. Even $1 will help! I appreciate all your messages of support and kind words and have faith that justice will prevail all this nightmare will be over sooner rather than later.
Organizer
Maria A Porras-Medeiros
Organizer
Downingtown, PA