The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are selling a dangerous myth: Venezuela as a socialist utopia. While ignoring Maduro’s human rights abuses, economic collapse, and the exodus of 8 million refugees, DSA leaders—some with ties to high-profile politicians—paint a rosy picture of a country where 90% live in poverty. This isn’t just propaganda; it’s a strategic effort to reshape U.S. foreign policy and domestic politics.
The Socialist Utopia Myth
On Tuesday, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) hosted a video call titled “Hands off Venezuela!” attended by 1,400 people. The event was a masterclass in political propaganda, portraying Venezuela as a socialist paradise where affordable housing is plentiful, communities thrive in idyllic communes, and the only threat to happiness is American imperialism.
What the DSA omitted is far more telling. There was no mention of the 8 million Venezuelans who have fled the country—the largest exodus in recent Latin American history, according to the United Nations. No discussion of the 17,882 politically motivated arrests or the 10,085 extrajudicial executions by security forces since Maduro took power in 2013, as documented by Human Rights Watch and PROVEA.
Instead, DSA leaders like Tristan Bavol-Marques of North Carolina offered a “history lesson” that erased Maduro’s abuses, focusing solely on government-approved talking points. Bavol-Marques, who has traveled to Venezuela for state-sponsored events, touted Maduro’s claim of building 5 million “good quality” homes through the Gran Misión Vivienda program. Yet, independent reports reveal only 135,000 homes have been built over a decade, with many lacking basic necessities like running water.
The DSA’s Propaganda Tour
Since 2021, Maduro has flown DSA leaders to Venezuela at least three times, hosting them in luxury hotels like the five-star Gran Meliá in Caracas. These trips, framed as “anti-imperialist” solidarity missions, have been criticized as little more than propaganda tours. Delegates were wined and dined while being fed a carefully curated narrative of Venezuela’s supposed successes.
One delegate, Austin Gonzalez, who worked for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign between 2020 and 2023, gushed on social media about the “humble” Maduro, calling him a leader who “cares deeply about his people.” Another delegate, Jen McKinney, marveled at the views from the Gran Meliá, tweeting, “It’s absolutely beautiful here.” These posts, now deleted, stand in stark contrast to the reality of Venezuela, where 90% of the population lives in poverty and 70% in extreme poverty, according to the UN.
The DSA’s 2024 election observation mission further underscored their alignment with Maduro. Despite widespread condemnation of the election as illegitimate by both the Biden and Trump administrations, the DSA declared it “free and fair” in a since-deleted statement. This stance aligns with Maduro’s narrative, which blames Venezuela’s economic collapse solely on U.S. sanctions—a claim echoed by DSA leaders during Tuesday’s call.
The Human Cost of Maduro’s Regime
The DSA’s rosy portrayal of Venezuela ignores the devastating human cost of Maduro’s rule. Since 2013, his regime has:
- Overseen the largest refugee crisis in Latin American history, with 8 million Venezuelans fleeing the country.
- Arrested 17,882 people for political reasons, according to Human Rights Watch.
- Executed more than 10,085 people through extrajudicial killings by security forces, as reported by PROVEA.
- Presided over an economy where 90% of the population lives in poverty, with hyperinflation rendering the currency nearly worthless.
Diego Vicentini, a Venezuelan filmmaker whose family fled to Miami, described the DSA’s portrayal as “either disingenuous or just very ignorant.” He pointed to the kleptocracy that has siphoned off billions meant for social programs, leaving infrastructure projects unfinished and communities in ruin. “Here we are, one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world, an economy collapsing, torture, imprisonment, silencing… How can they really know what’s going on in another country?” Vicentini asked.
The Political Implications for the U.S.
The DSA’s campaign is not just about Venezuela; it’s a strategic effort to influence U.S. foreign policy and domestic politics. During Tuesday’s call, DSA leaders urged attendees to flood Congress with letters demanding Maduro’s release. They’ve already sent 30,000 letters to representatives, framing Maduro’s capture as an act of U.S. aggression.
State Sen. Jabari Brisport (D-Brooklyn), a DSA member, went further, declaring, “The only president who should be prosecuted right now is Donald Trump.” He called Maduro’s detention a “kidnapping” and warned that the U.S. could target other leftist governments in Latin America. This rhetoric aligns with the DSA’s broader strategy of portraying U.S. foreign policy as inherently imperialist, regardless of the human rights records of the regimes it opposes.
The DSA’s stance has drawn criticism from Venezuelan Americans and human rights advocates. “Venezuelans are overjoyed that Maduro was taken away,” Vicentini said. Yet, the DSA’s narrative persists, driven by a mix of ideological alignment and what critics describe as willful ignorance of Maduro’s abuses.
Why This Matters
The DSA’s Venezuela campaign is a case study in how political movements can whitewash authoritarian regimes to advance their domestic agenda. By portraying Maduro’s Venezuela as a socialist success story, the DSA is not only misleading its members but also attempting to reshape U.S. policy debates. This has real-world consequences:
- Foreign Policy: The DSA’s lobbying efforts could influence U.S. policy toward Venezuela, potentially weakening sanctions or reducing pressure on Maduro’s regime.
- Domestic Politics: The DSA’s narrative reinforces divisions within the Democratic Party, pitting progressive factions against more moderate voices on foreign policy.
- Public Perception: By omitting Maduro’s human rights abuses, the DSA risks normalizing authoritarianism among young Americans who may be unfamiliar with Venezuela’s reality.
As Maduro faces trial in New York on drug trafficking and weapons charges, the DSA’s campaign will likely intensify. For Venezuelans like Vicentini, the stakes are personal. “It’s all about social programs, which the oil money gets funneled into, and then nothing ever gets built,” he said. “There is a lot of that, infrastructure that was promised like 15 years ago and it’s half of a wall falling apart.”
For the DSA, Venezuela is a political tool. For Venezuelans, it’s a humanitarian crisis. The disconnect between these two realities is the heart of this story—and why it demands urgent attention.
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