“Death to racism and discrimination” -- this was the central demand made during this weekend’s International Afro-descendants Encounter taken place at the Caracas Hilton Hotel.

The Encounter revolved around the main theme of “State Modernization: From representative democracy to participative democracy from ethnic perspectives.”

One of the proposals presented during the event was the possible signing of an agreement between the Brazilian and the Venezuelan government, with the purpose of developing public policies to end racial discrimination.

During the event, the participants came up with the Caracas Declaration and a Plan of Action, through which they voiced their concerns regarding racism and the mistreatment they continue to face for being dark skinned.

Afterwards, the Encounter was taken to the Museum Plaza, where an afro-descendant music concert took place, in honor of the 210 years since the uprising of Jose Leonardo Chirino, an important afro-Venezuelan historical figure, who led the insurrection of blacks and indigenous peoples in Coro in 1875.

Minister of Communication & Information, Andres Izarra and Minister of Education & Sports, Aristobulo Isturiz, were both present at the closure of the International Afro-descendants Encounter.

Encuentro de Afrodescendientes pide muerte del racismo y la discriminación