Protests erupt across U.S. over Maduro capture

(MENAFN) Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Manhattan on Saturday to voice opposition to the recent U.S. military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, as reported by observers.

The protest in Times Square was part of a broader wave of “No war on Venezuela” demonstrations occurring in over 100 cities nationwide, including Washington, Boston, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, and Miami.

Participants carried signs reading “Hands off Venezuela,” “U.S. out of Caribbean,” “No war for Venezuelan oil,” and “Defend Venezuela against U.S. imperialism,” while chants of “Defend Venezuela, Free Maduro” filled the streets.

“This war is not about drugs, it is about Venezuela's oil,” said Karen, a middle-aged New Yorker attending 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, criticized U.S.-led regime change efforts abroad, noting, “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 announced on Saturday that Maduro had been captured during the operation and flown out of the country with his wife. He added that the United States would “run” Venezuela until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” is achieved.

“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.”

The demonstration was organized by the anti-war group Answer Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), which condemned the U.S. strikes in Caracas and Maduro’s capture. The organization urged Americans to mobilize against what it called 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!”

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