Imprisoned Opposition Leader Gathers Tens of Thousands of Venezuelans and Calls on Maduro to Resign

"Who Tires Loses"-  Leopoldo López 

Leopoldo's wife, Lilian Tintori reads his letter at Saturday rally

 On March 19, 2014 Leopoldo López called on Venezuelans to take to the streets on Saturday, March 22, 2014 to increase their nonviolent defiance of the Maduro dictatorship and in doing so break it. On Saturday tens upon tens of thousands of Venezuelans went into the street across Venezuela. At an open air rally surrounded by tens of thousands, his wife, Lilian Tintori read a letter Leopoldo had written for that day in which he called on Maduro to resign in order to save the country or be forced out by the Venezuelan people. Video of the event is embedded below along with pictures of the mass protest. Leopoldo López has been unjustly imprisoned since February 18, 2014 the same day that Génesis Carmona was shot in the head by agents of the Maduro government. She died a day later. The torture and killing of students by government forces continues and the number of dead , due to regime repression of nonviolent dissent, stands at 34.

Leopoldo López to Maduro: Resign to save Venezuela 

Lilian Tintori: I will read this letter that is Leopoldo’s message today:

"This letter that I write from my cell in Ramo Verde is addressed to Nicolás Maduro who no one doubts has become the dictator of Venezuela. The serious crisis facing our country today is not the fault of the people, or of those who support the regime, or those of us whom oppose it. The blame Maduro is yours and of the inefficient, corrupt and undemocratic system you lead.

I invite you from the solitude of power, of one who does not have the ability to lead the destinies of the nation and who has only repression and violence remaining, to think: How you would save Venezuela if you would resign:

If you resign we could advance towards a system of justice respectful of human rights and fair to all without exclusions or privileges;

If you resign we would have a chance to bury impunity thus reaping the security, peace and tranquility we Venezuelans so desire;

If you resign the whole country could get to work on building a strong economy, made in Venezuela and for Venezuelans, the source of prosperity and progress for all and thus overcome inequality and poverty in peace and democracy.

The first solution you have in your hands but it should be clear, very clear, that you are not the owner of Venezuela. We are not afraid of you, your tanks, your unjust justice, or your lies. The people remain in the streets because the constitution indicates it. The people have lost so much that they have lost fear.

For Venezuela, for our children, Strength and Faith!
Leopoldo López

#22M Protest in Chacao, Venezuela

Spanish text of the speech as delivered:

 Leopoldo López a Maduro: renuncia para salvar a Venezuela

Lilian Tintori: Voy a leer esta carta que es el mensaje de Leopoldo el día de hoy:

“Esta carta que escribo de mi celda de Ramo Verde va dirigida a Nicolás Maduro quien ya nadie duda se ha convertido en el dictador de Venezuela. La grave crisis por la que hoy atraviesa nuestro país no es culpa del pueblo ni de los quien apoyan al régimen ni de los quien nos oponemos. La culpa, Maduro, es tuya y del sistema ineficiente, corrupto y antidemocrático que diriges.

Te invito a que desde la soledad del poder, de quien no tiene la capacidad de conducir los destinos de la nación y solo le ha quedado la represión y la violencia, a que pienses: cómo salvarías a Venezuela si tú renunciaras:

Si tu renuncias pudríamos avanzar hacia un sistema de justicia respetoso de los derechos humanos y justo para todos sin exclusión ni privilegios;

Si tu renuncias tendríamos la oportunidad de enterrar la impunidad para así cosechar la seguridad, la paz y la tranquilidad que tanto deseamos los venezolanos;

Si tu renuncias el país entero podría ponerse a trabajar en la construcción de una economía fuerte, hecha en Venezuela y para los venezolanos, fuente de prosperidad y progreso para todos y poder así superar la desigualdad y la pobreza en paz y en democracia.

La primera solución la tienes en tus manos pero debe estar claro, muy claro, que no eres el dueño de Venezuela. No te tenemos miedo, ni a ti, ni a tus tanquetas, ni a tu justicia injusta, ni a tus mentiras. El pueblo seguirá en las calles porque así lo indica la constitución. El pueblo ha perdido tanto que a perdido el miedo.

Por Venezuela, por nuestros hijos, ¡Fuerza y fe!”

Leopoldo López

#22M protest in Maracaibo, Venezuela.