In the midst of global reactions to the U.S. seizing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his spouse, some protestors in Hamilton, Canada, are condemning the military intervention. Ken Stone, a member of the Canada-Wide Peace and Justice Network, stated that the U.S. has no legal authority to invade a sovereign nation and forcefully remove its head of state. Demonstrators gathered outside the government building in Hamilton, displaying signs reading “Hands off Venezuela” and “No war on Venezuela,” urging the Canadian government to pressure the U.S. to return Maduro and Cilia Flores to Venezuela.
Maduro and Flores were apprehended in Caracas through an extraordinary U.S. military operation and transported to New York City to face charges related to drug trafficking and narco-terrorism. They both pleaded not guilty on Monday. Maduro’s lawyer described the event as an “abduction,” with countries like Russia and China denouncing the raid. Despite this, Trump’s administration defended the capture, citing the criminal charges faced by Maduro and his wife as justification. The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations emphasized that it was a “surgical law enforcement operation” rather than an act of war.
Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed Canada’s support for the Venezuelan people’s right to determine their future democratically. At the Hamilton demonstration, individuals from various Latin American countries, including Federico Luchsinger from Chile, criticized the U.S.’s actions. Luchsinger, a political refugee, highlighted the historical repercussions of U.S. interventions in Latin America and questioned the motives behind the recent events in Venezuela.
Meanwhile, in Montreal, Venezuelan demonstrators celebrated Maduro’s removal, viewing it as a step towards a better future. Geraldine Pacheco, who migrated from Venezuela to Newfoundland, shared her relief over the situation, citing the hardships faced by her family back in Venezuela under Maduro’s regime. The ongoing developments in Venezuela have prompted a sense of uncertainty and cautious optimism among Venezuelans as they await what the future holds.