Hundreds of Venezuelans took to the streets in New York on Tuesday to protest against the results of the elections in their country, which declared the “dictator” Nicolás Maduro the winner, according to the results issued by the electoral body, in addition to demanding his departure from power and that the international community not recognize “the falsehood” of his victory at the polls.
“Freedom, freedom,” “And it will fall, that government will fall,” or “Our president is called Edmundo González” shouted the Venezuelans gathered in the popular Union Square in Manhattan, where they arrived with their flag in hand, hugging it, painted on their faces or on their clothes.
Venezuelans, who had placed their hopes in the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) coalition, led by María Corina Machado and which propelled González to the presidency, were outraged by the certification of Maduro’s presumed victory, which sparked protests in the Caribbean country since Monday and which have cost the lives of 11 people, according to four NGOs, and which were remembered today in New York with an improvised altar of candles, flowers and messages.
“The indignant people demand their rights,” they shouted at the protest, which began by singing the Venezuelan national anthem and thanking the “heroes and heroines” who are taking to the streets to protest in Venezuela.
Yohember Peña, 29, made a strong appeal to “the countries, to the UN, to the OAS: you have to help us with an intervention, the people have already done their job, we need the collaboration of international organizations,” after which the crowd of about a thousand people shouted in unison “Southern Command, Southern Command” (of the US Army), a demand they made several times.
In response to this call, the leaders of the Comando con Venezuela, who called for Tuesday’s protest, following the instructions of the central command in Venezuela led by Machado, reminded them that the purpose of the demonstration was to demand that the will of the people be respected at the polls, which demands victory for González.
Among the crowd there were representatives from various countries in solidarity. “What happens in Venezuela can happen in any country in the world. A Maduro can be born in Santo Domingo, in Colombia, in Ecuador, that is why we Latin Americans have to support Venezuela, which was our support when we had a dictatorship,” said a Dominican.
Venezuelans wrote messages on two large canvases for the people in their country, on which they placed candles and flowers for the deceased: “for my people, hold on, we are with you,” “fraud, out with Maduro,” among others, while banners read “the fight continues until the dictator falls,” or “No to fraud” or “I support my president Edmundo.”
This community (Venezuelans) has grown by 800% in the last two years, when a large number of immigrants have arrived in New York, and now there are about 135,000, said activist Jesús Aguais, who claimed that “they came (to the US) to contribute as other immigrants have done” and not to be singled out after the negative comments made by the Republican candidate for the White House, Donald Trump.
New York / EFE
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2024-08-01 22:30:12
