Professor, Activist, and Community Organizer: Dr. William Guzman

In the late fall of 2019, I met Professor William Guzman at a jazz event being held in the Miller Branch Library – Cultural Arts Center, Jersey City, New Jersey. Guzman, a Professor of Pan-African and Latin America studies who once taught at NJCU is still a very active community organizer. After speaking with him briefly at the jazz event, I do not doubt that Professor Guzman has the level of knowledge and understanding of conditions that have historically affected all people of color are powerful. In my opinion, he has the tools that allow him to serve as a direct liaison to our community.
I had no idea that NJCU has made a grave mistake in letting go of a brilliant and passionate man who has given so much to the school and the local community. As I read more about Guzman’s rebuttal statement on the issue of NJCU not giving him tenure and why ultimately he resigned, I have to question the motivations of President Sue Henderson’s decision of letting him go.

It's a shame and quite honest I feel embarrassed as a student at NJCU that the board members at the university would allow this to happen.

But I guess that is the life of an activist, especially when a professor speaks truth to power and give voice to the ones who are voiceless. Speaking at the NAACP's 98th annual Freedom Fund Banquet in Bayonne where he and others were honored said the following:

“Often times when you're an activist, you’re toiling in the vineyards and it feels like you're alone. When these types of events come up, it gives the community an opportunity to recognize the work of so many people."

-William Guzman

I say thank you, Dr. Guzman, for being a real inspiration and hope that we can one day work together on continuing to educate and build a better world.

Check out his latest lecture below:

He is currently residing in the state of Texas and will be giving a talk this coming month of
February 1, 2020 at the Family Life Center, Fourth Avenue Church of Christ

The End of US Failed Puppet: Juan Guaidó

By César Omar Sánchez

In the spring of 2019 at the Second Annual Lati Colloquium event at NJCU (New Jersy City University), I gave a presentation on US Imperialism and the role it played throughout Latin America. Giving the circumstance occurring in Latin America, I felt it was necessary to try bringing this out onto the discussion table for everyone to participate in. On one of the slides of my presentation, I gave a strong argument against US Interventions and possibly military attack strikes in Venezuela.

Flyer designed (front side)

by César Omar Sánchez

So, who is Juan Guaido, the so-called "interim president" of Venezuela?

Juan has graduate degrees from prestigious DC university George Washington, where he studied under a former IMF (International Monetary Fund) director, as well as attended private business school in Caracas, Venezuela. Yes, no doubt an elitist who surrounds himself with rich powerful individuals in the United States. However, he was better known on US soil than he was in his home country of Venezuela.

Guaido’s roots are in the militant right-wing of the opposition as an organizer in the violent street protests known as Guarimbas. These fascist protestors were responsible for numerous deaths, especially burning alive a black Venezuelan which resulted in his death.

Deeply connected to US regime change front groups like USAID and the National Endowment for Democracy, Juan Guaidó mission was to overthrow the socialist government by any means necessary. By 2010, international agencies were generously pouring up to 50 million dollars per year into funding the Venezuelan opposition movement. It sounds like a pretty open and shut case of a US/CIA regime change plot. All their rhetoric is about the “restoration of democracy”, the same narrative the mainstream media continues to repeat.

Sanctions on Venezuela, but why?

Flyer designed (back side)

by César Omar Sánchez

One part of my PowerPoint presentation I talked about the illegal and unethical sanctions against the sovereign country of Venezuela. These sanctions imposed by the United States and its junior partners against countries that resist their agendas. They are a weapon of Economic War, resulting in chronic shortages of necessities, economic dislocation, chaotic hyperinflation, artificial famines, disease, and poverty. In every country, the poorest and the weakest – infants, children, the chronically ill and the elderly – suffer the worst impact of sanctions.

Jeffery Sachs who is a leading economist and director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University said the following regarding the sanctions on Venezuela: 

“More than 40,000 people have died in Venezuela since 2017 as a result of U.S. sanctions”

Juan Guaidó approved these same US measures (sanctions) against his own people in Venezuela. 

Venezuela’s Oil

Since the illegal invasion of Iraq predicated on lies from our government and the cheerleaders at FOX, CNN, MSNBC and basically all mainstream media, we now know it was all about the oil. Like Iraq, Venezuela has a huge oil reserve which the United States will do anything to take control of it. After a failed coup (attempt overthrow of a government) in 2002 which the US was trying to oust out the democratically elected leader Hugo Chavez, US top officials are still trying to get their hands on Venezuela’s Black Gold...Oil

US Puppet “Juan Guaidó” Failed Miserably.

On January 5th, 2019, the Venezuelan National Assembly gave Juan Guaidó the final blow which ultimately was removed as president of the Venezuelan National Assembly. Even among his opposition party threw him under the bus after Juan Guaidó is being charged with numerous corruption allegations. These series of scandals include his role in the alleged embezzlement of “humanitarian aid” and links to Colombian paramilitaries. On the day of the vote at the National Assembly, Guaido never entered the legislative palace, claiming he was barred from doing so by security forces. A video circulated on social media even showed the opposition politician making a dramatic scene by trying to climb over the secured gates.  

However, his version of events has been called into question by other opposition deputies, who did take part in the session and suggested Guaido could have simply walked through the front door. AD Deputy William Davila, a staunch Guaido loyalist, was seen freely entering the chamber, and later told reporters that all but a handful of lawmakers were allowed to do so with NO PROBLEM. This is just another pathetic last attempt to try to win over his supporters in Venezuela.

This can possibly be the beginning of the end for Juan Guaidó, but make no mistake, the US Empire has many tricks up their sleeves.

North of Havana...A must read!

By César Omar Sánchez

This past holiday season, I met and spoke with author, lawyer Martin Garbus on his new recent book “North of Havana: The Untold Story of Dirty Politics, Secrets Diplomacy, and The Trial of The Cuba Five”. The book exposes the lies, deceptions, and ongoing Anti-Castro propaganda that still exists today in Miami and throughout the US. It tells the story of how since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, Cuban exiles and the US have not forgiven Fidel Castro and the people of Cuba to retake what was rightfully theirs…their own country.

Fidel Castro passed away in 2016 and his brother Raul Castro who stepped down as president, and yet many Anti-Castro extreme right-wing Cuba exiles are continuing to destabilize the country using all types of methods for so long now. 

Martin mentions how the mainstream media, along with the US Government continues to fund journalists to undermine Cuba's government by distorting the facts about US secret involvement in Cuba. He also exposes the US support of terrorist individuals like Luis Posada Carriles and Orlando Bosch who were responsible for many deaths, especially a bombing of an airliner. All this information was taken from CIA’s own heavily documentation which broke the story to the public. Other methods of undermining the Cuba Revolution are the funding of organization like CANF (Cuban American National Foundation) that continues to use their financial power to influence the US government to impose an illegal economic blockade. At the time CANF pressured both political parties, Republicans and Democrats on tightening up the economic Illegal blockade like the Helms-Burton act with hopes the people of Cuba will rise-up and overthrow their socialist government out of desperation, but their plan failed. 

Other terrorist organizations like the Alpha 66 who were constantly attacking Cuba from the coast of South Florida also failed as well. It is important to point out, as Martin Garbus’s book brilliant does, it is that over the years militant exiles have been linked to everything from downing other airliners to hit-and-run commando raids on the Cuban coast to hotel bombings in Havana. They've killed Cuban diplomats and made numerous attempts on Castro's life in the past.

Martin Garbus speaking at the People's Forum at the anniversary and celebration of
the freedom of the Cuban Five

Flyer designed by César Omar Sánchez

Other organization provocateurs like “Brothers to the Rescue” led by Cuban exiled José Basulto was used to provoking the Cuban Government after illegally flying into Cuban Airspace. This provocation was against International Law that ultimately led to the shootdown of two of his aircraft by the Cuban Government who were just defending their nation. 

The Cuban Five, who were sent by the Cuban government to spy on these organizations based in Miami were arrested in September 1998 from US officials. The story of the Cuban Five by Martin Garbus is, in my opinion, is close and accurate of what occurred during the trial of these five brave souls who were defending their country from US Imperialism. 

There is so much information on this book I just don’t want to give it away. This new year take a trip to your local bookstore or simply just download the digital book. No doubt, this is a book worth reading!

by César Omar Sánchez. Community organizer, New York/New Jersey Cuba Si Coalition, Advisory Board Member of ProLibertad: Free All Political Prisoners Campaign.

New Year's Resolution for 2020...Climate Crisis, Cost of College, and WARS! Time to Take Action!

By César Omar Sánchez

Happy New Year everyone! It’s finally here, 2020!

Sorry guys, the party is over and it’s back to school again.  As most people are going back to their daily routine life, I felt that are a few things that we all need to keep in mind this new year.

As a student at NJCU, many of us are committed to continually improving our grades and hit those high GPA number figures. Obviously, we all want to graduate and get those jobs once we receive our college degree. However, I feel that this year should be a time of clarity and a new different approach to tackling many issues we are all facing today. From climate crisis to higher tuition to the forgotten wars we are no longer hear about on mainstream media, 2020 is the year of being social-conscious on what is occurring around us.

The ongoing danger of climate crisis is a global threat. We must be educated enough to understand that this is something we should all be alarmed about. Here are a few steps for us to take action.

One: Unite with bold climate, environmentalist activists to force our government and corporations to stop financing these fossil fuels and old agriculture methods of growing our food which is so unhealthy and dangerous.

Two: Use energy wisely such as switching to energy-efficient light bulbs, unplug computers and other electrical devices when not in use, wash clothes in cold or warm weather, and try to keep cool without using an air-conditioner. Yeah, yeah, I know the last one is a bit of a challenge, but if you can drink plenty of water and invest in a ceiling fan, it will work just as good.

Three: Eat more meat-free meals, don’t waste food, buy organic and if possible, grow your food.

THE COST OF HIGHER EDUCATION:
When it comes to higher education in the United States, the cost is significantly rising at a staggering rate which makes some students feel hopeless about how to repay this loan back. Let's face it, the current system we are in simply does not provide good and affordable education to us all. It is time for a new shift of paradigm and advocate for free college accessible to everyone, so we won't need to take out excessive loans. We have the resources and financial backing to make this happen, unfortunately, all the wealth is being allocated to other useless resources; such as investing in the military complex, bailing out bankers, and supporting puppet dictators in Latin America to serve US interest.

COST OF IMPERIAL WARS:

The United States of America is currently in ongoing wars such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, and now possibly with Iran. The mainstream media along with the U.S. government continues to hide the truth about the all the current wars we are engaged in. When you think about how many people have been massacred and forced to migrate to other countries due to our hegemonic global domination, it’s no wonder why many countries see the US as a threat. All the money that is being pumped into the military-industrial complex can easily be used to provide every US-Non-Citizen access to free public college and more! Let’s not forget our Brothers and Sisters who being misled on continuing to fight these unnecessary wars, it's time to bring them back home.

So yes, 2020 is the year that we must fully engage and revitalize some sort of student grassroot movement to bring change not only on campus by within our local community.

by César Omar Sánchez. Community organizer, New York/New Jersey Cuba Si Coalition, Advisory Board Member of ProLibertad: Free All Political Prisoners Campaign.