After Venezuelan activist and long-time friend of SFL, Yon Goicoechea, was kidnapped by agents of the Venezuelan government,

we asked the global liberty community to help us #FreeYon by sharing the hashtag and starting a petition for Yon’s release.

Now we’ve revived the #PorUnaVenezuelaLibre campaign because the problem is much larger than just one activist. There are as many as 90 people being detained in secret for political reasons in the country today. And with more unrest sure to come, its important now to call for their safe release.

Here’s the statement from EsLibertad if you haven’t read it yet.

Now, we need your help.

Please join Students For Liberty in calling on the U.S. government and the international human rights community to put pressure on Venezuela to free Yon Goicoechea. You can help us by:

• Sharing an image or video message of yourself like those below with a sign, maybe a Venezuelan flag, and the hashtags #PorUnaVenezuela and #FreeYon/#LiberenAYon. Please include your name (first is okay), your country, the hashtags, and a message of support for the Venezuelan political prisoners.
• Signing the petition to #FreeYon.
• Supporting Students For Liberty’s efforts in Latin America and beyond.

La insostenible situación de Venezuela #LiberenAYon #FreeYon pic.twitter.com/MT3muDdsyu

— SFL España (@SFLSpain) September 4, 2016

Yon’s involvement with SFL goes almost back to our origins. In addition to aiding our efforts in Latin America, Yon was our keynote speaker for the Second Annual ISFLC where he spoke on his experience leading the youth movement for freedom in Venezuela. At the time he was only 23 and still a law student. Already, he had achieved more than most of us ever will. We won’t rest until he’s free to continue this critical work for many years to come.