URGENT UPDATE: Just hours after a controversial U.S. military operation captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, over 100 protesters rallied in San Jose on Sunday to voice their opposition to President Donald Trump’s actions. The protest unfolded amid heavy rain, demonstrating the community’s commitment to expressing their dissent against what they describe as an illegal intervention in a sovereign nation.
The military operation, which took place early Saturday morning, included at least seven explosions in Caracas, resulting in multiple casualties and raising serious concerns about international law. Protesters brandished signs reading “Stop attacking Venezuela” and “Hands off Venezuela,” while chanting, “No boots underground, no bombs in the air, US out of everywhere.”
Organizers from various South Bay advocacy groups, including San Jose Against War and 50501 San Jose, gathered at the Mexican Heritage Plaza to demonstrate that the local population stands firmly against the Trump administration’s “illegal attempt at regime change.”
Sharat Lin, associated with Human Agenda, emphasized the need for peace: “We will not tolerate another military adventure,” he declared. Fellow organizer Uriel Magdaleno condemned the impact of U.S. policies on Venezuelan immigrants, stating, “Stop the exploitation of undocumented workers, stop the separation of families.”
The military strikes against Venezuela were reportedly aimed at seizing control over the country’s oil production, a move that Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified does not imply direct U.S. governance but rather an enforcement of an “oil quarantine.”
As the protest unfolded, demonstrators marched towards King and Story roads, receiving honks of support from passing drivers. Many attendees voiced their concerns about the lack of congressional approval for military action. First-term Rep. Lateefah Simon of Oakland criticized the president’s unilateral decision, stating, “The President launched a war last night without the consent of Congress. That is unconstitutional and illegal.”
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, also from San Francisco, echoed similar sentiments, asserting that the administration failed to justify the military intervention as a necessary measure for national security. “Venezuela is ruled by an illegitimate regime, but the Trump Administration has not made the case that an urgent threat to America’s national security existed,” she said.
The community’s outrage reflects not only a local sentiment but a broader concern over U.S. foreign policy. International security expert and Cal State East Bay professor Maria Ortuoste noted that such actions diminish U.S. credibility on the global stage. “Voters should be concerned about how power is concentrated in the hands of a few,” she stated.
With approximately 9,200 Venezuelans residing in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont area, the local impact of these actions is significant. The protests in San Jose were part of a series of rallies held in San Francisco and Oakland over the weekend, highlighting widespread dissent against U.S. military involvement in Venezuela.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned for more updates as this situation evolves.
