#40 ¿Que pasó? with Señor B - week of 12/29

A video has surfaced that captures a terrifying reality for a group of workers. In the footage, a man reveals that he and others are being held in and forced to work for no pay by a property owner. The owner’s leverage is a threat that many in vulnerable positions fear most: the promise of calling ICE to have them deported if they do not comply. This isn't just a violation of labor laws; it is a direct assault on the fundamental right to liberty and human dignity.

It is critical to be clear on this point: human rights are not conditional upon immigration papers. Whether an individual has documentation or not, they are entitled to the protections of the U.S. Constitution and the universal standards of human decency. When a property owner uses a person’s status as a weapon to obtain free labor, they are committing extortion and wage theft. According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, no one can be deprived of their liberty or held in servitude based on their legal status.

This situation in Charlotte serves as a reminder that exploitation thrives in the shadows of fear. By using the threat of retaliation, the property owner attempts to silence the very people he is victimizing. Because of this, the responsibility falls on the rest of us. If you witness injustices like these, you must speak up. We have a moral obligation to use our voices for those who are currently too scared to use their own. Silence only empowers the exploiter, while advocacy can dismantle the systems that allow this kind of modern-day forced labor to exist.

Only days into the new year, we are witnessing a familiar and concerning pattern unfold as the Trump Administration moves to intervene in Venezuela. The announcement that the United States will assume control over Venezuela’s vast oil reserves under the guise of "extracting resources" marks a significant escalation in a long history of foreign interference. This move is not an isolated incident but rather a continuation of a century-long struggle over who has the right to profit from the largest oil reserves on the planet.

To understand this current moment, we must look back to the warnings of former President Hugo Chávez. As early as 2009, Chávez identified Venezuela’s natural wealth as the primary target for northern interests. His efforts to nationalize oil and redirect profits toward social programs, such as free healthcare and literacy missions for the poor, placed him directly in the crosshairs of the U.S. government. This tension famously culminated in the 2002 coup attempt, an event backed by the U.S. that briefly saw a democratically elected leader kidnapped before a massive uprising of the Venezuelan people restored him to power.

For the past decade, President Maduro has maintained a similar stance on resource sovereignty, which has been met with devastating economic sanctions from the United States. These policies are often framed through the lens of promoting "democracy," yet the historical record suggests a different primary motivation: control. From the 1954 coup in Guatemala to the 1973 overthrow of Salvador Allende in Chile , U.S. intervention in Latin America has consistently prioritized corporate interests and resource extraction over the democratic will of the local population.

It is entirely possible to disagree with the internal policies of the Maduro administration while simultaneously acknowledging that the United States should not be the arbiter of Venezuela’s fate. History teaches us that military and economic interventions rarely benefit the people they claim to "liberate." Instead, the burden of these conflicts is almost always carried by ordinary citizens who simply wish to live with dignity and have their basic needs met.

As we watch these events unfold, it is vital that we educate ourselves beyond soundbites and headlines. Understanding the mechanics of empire requires looking at the "hidden history" of how these interventions are planned and executed. To dive deeper into this subject, I highly recommend the following resources:

Advocating for sovereignty and human rights means standing against the repetition of these historical injustices. We must speak up for a world where the people of a nation, and not foreign powers, decide their own future.