Hundreds of people took to the streets of Manhattan on Saturday to protest against the U.S. military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
According to foreign media reports, the march was part of nationwide “No war on Venezuela” demonstrations in more than 100 U.S. cities, including Washington, Boston, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, and Miami.
Protesters gathered in Times Square, waving signs that read “Hands off Venezuela,” “U.S. out of Caribbean,” “No war for Venezuelan oil,” and “Defend Venezuela against U.S. imperialism.” Chants of “Defend Venezuela, Free Maduro” echoed through the crowd.
“This war is not about drugs, it is about Venezuela’s oil,” said Karen, a middle-aged New Yorker participating in the march. “How do you have the right to step in Venezuela, to attack Venezuela? It feels like we act as criminals. We are here to say that this is an unjust action.”
Hassan, a college student from Pakistan, said U.S.-led efforts to change governments abroad were not new, “but at least it wore a mask, like in the name of restoring democracy in the Middle East. However, today it takes the mask off. This is quite nakedly about oil and natural resources.”
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that his country had struck Venezuela and captured President Maduro, who was flown out of the country along with his wife. Trump added that the United States would “run” Venezuela until “a safe, proper and judicious transition.”
“This is not gonna happen,” one speaker at the Times Square rally responded. “It’s arrogance. Listen to what Trump said today when he said, ‘we want all your oil, all your land, all your assets, turn it over to us.’ The Venezuelan people will not accept the United States running their country or stealing their oil, gas, gold, or any resources. There will be strong resistance. No, that age is over.”
One of the organizers, Answer Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), condemned the U.S. bombing of Caracas and the capture of Maduro, calling on Americans to “say no to another endless war.”
“A U.S. war would cause death and destruction to the people of Venezuela. The war machine consumes an unimaginable amount of our tax dollars while working families struggle to make ends meet,” the group said in a statement. “The people need to take to the streets and say no to Trump’s war on Venezuela!”
