STEUBENVILLE, OHIO — Venezuelan freedom activist, economist, and founder of the Dissident Project Daniel Di Martino will speak at Franciscan University of Steubenville on November 12 about the dangers of socialism in America and his personal experiences in Venezuela.

The free event will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Tony and Nina Gentile Gallery, lower level, J.C. Williams Center. Following his talk, Di Martino will participate in a question-and-answer session with audience members.

The event will be hosted by the student chapter of the Young America’s Foundation (YAF) at Franciscan University. The group’s president, Anna Myron, a senior history and political science major from Butler, Pennsylvania, said they invited Di Martino to campus because ­­­he is a strong Catholic who speaks boldly about the economic and cultural injustices of socialism from a personal perspective.

“This is going to be a very important talk for students and the public to hear more about why socialism never works. His talk will help us all understand why we need to work to ensure socialism never takes hold in America,” Myron said.

Di Martino is a fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a PhD candidate in economics at Columbia University. His research focuses on immigration, especially selection, assimilation, and highly skilled immigration. Born and raised in Venezuela, Di Martino experienced the terrible consequences of socialism firsthand. After leaving Venezuela for the U.S. in 2016, he dedicated himself to explaining how socialism destroyed his homeland, advocating for freedom in Venezuela, and stopping socialism from being implemented in America and elsewhere.

He also founded the Dissident Project to teach high school students about the evils of socialist regimes.

A recording of the talk will be available on the YAFtv YouTube Channel.