New York, Jan. 31 — A spirited crowd gathered in the afternoon in Times Square for a rally and march demanding the immediate release of President Nicolás Maduro and First Combatant Cilia Flores from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. The action marked the concluding day of a broader Week of Resistance in Solidarity with Venezuela.
This action, endorsed by over 20 organizations, was called as part of the Week of Resistance in Solidarity with Venezuela (Jan 23-31), with organizers demanding an end to U.S. imperialist war and sanctions against Venezuela, the demilitarization of the Caribbean, and the withdrawal of U.S. military forces surrounding Venezuela and Cuba.
A cohort from the Baltimore branch of the Struggle for Socialism Party made the 200-mile trek to New York, braving bitter cold in solidarity with protesters. They brought large banners reading, “Trump out now! No war on Venezuela — Free Palestine!” and “Free President Maduro and Cilia Flores!”
It has been more than one month since the Trump administration illegally kidnapped President Maduro and Cilia Flores as part of a targeted bombing campaign against Caracas, and imprisoned them on sham narco-terrorism and gun-related charges. Their first hearing is scheduled for March 17.
It’s no secret that this deliberate violation of international law is nothing more than another attempt at regime change in Venezuela, fully funded by the U.S., aimed at seizing the country’s oil and imposing neocolonial control.
Speakers at the opening rally included representatives from Diaspora Palante Collective, the Puerto Rican Independence Party, the All African People’s Revolutionary Party, Workers World Party, and the Bronx Anti-War Committee. Anti-Maduro hecklers who passed by attempted to interrupt some of the speeches but were unsuccessful. Speakers highlighted the resilience of the Venezuelan people despite the kidnapping of Maduro and Flores, and that millions continue to stay in the streets every day demanding their return.
The march stepped off to energetic chants of “Maduro, amigo, el pueblo está contigo!” (“Maduro, friend, the people are with you”) and “Maduro aguanta, el pueblo se levanta!” (“Maduro, hold on, the people are rising”). Signs reading “USA hands off Venezuela,” “Free President Maduro and Cilia Flores now!” and “Abolish ICE! End raids and racism” were held alongside large Venezuelan flags.
During the first leg of the march, protesters attempted to enter the street to shut down traffic but were stopped by NYPD officers riding alongside the route on bicycles. The march continued on icy sidewalks. At a second rally point between 49th and 50th streets near the former Exxon building, representatives from Arm the Dollz, Code Pink and Brooklyn Against War spoke, emphasizing how U.S. imperialist grabs for oil are driven by bloodthirsty corporations such as Exxon and Chevron.
The march continued up Sixth Avenue, concluding at the southern entrance to Central Park near the José Martí and Simón Bolívar statues. Representatives from Black Alliance for Peace, Friends of Swazi Freedom, Compás de la Diáspora and the Struggle for Socialism Party delivered closing remarks. This author connected the kidnapping of Maduro and Flores to ongoing ICE kidnappings of immigrants and activists in the United States and invited attendees to join a car caravan from Baltimore on Saturday, March 7, to Free Maduro and Flores from illegal detention.
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