Juan Manuel Carrasco, 21, was arrested during a student protest in the city of Valencia in Venezuela.

His Mother, Rebeca González de Carrasco, said that her son was tortured, humiliated and raped by the Bolivarian National Guard while in custody.

"I am watching with increasing concern the situation in Venezuela. The government's use of force and judicial intimidation against citizens and political figures, who are exercising a legitimate right to protest, is unacceptable and will only increase the likelihood of violence."

John Kerry, Secretary of State, February 22, 2014

"Along with the Organization of American States, we call on the Venezuelan government to release protesters it has detained and engage in real dialogue."

President Obama, Toluca Mexico, February 19, 2014

"Standing silent as democracy atrophies in Venezuela is now not only immoral, but is becoming increasingly dangerous for all of Venezuela's people."

Václav Havel, Czech playwright, essayist, poet, dissident and politician.

What you can do:

Contact The White House, your Congressional leaders, or the political leaders in your country and tell them that you're concerned about the erosion of human rights in Venezuela.
Contact Amnesty International and ask them how you can help.

Sign the petition on change.org addressed to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) at the United Nations demanding the release of 6 student protestors from prison in Venezuela.

Google Venezuela and read articles by the New York Times, CNN, Reuters, The Guardian, the Associated Press, Bloomberg, and others. Read the blog Caracas Chronicles, The Devil's Excrement, and Venezuela News and Views.

Show this video to your friends and family.

#PrayforVenezuela

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