By: Ashmar Mandou

Thousands of Chicagoans gathered at Federal Plaza on Saturday, Jan. 3rd to denounce the U.S. military forces capture and extradition of notorious Venezuelan Dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores last Friday. Maduro, who is facing drug-trafficking and weapons charges, pleaded not guilty in a New York courtroom on Monday afternoon. The shocking overnight operation was met with opposition from Chicago officials, calling the arrest “illegal.”

“Today’s military operation in Venezuela and the kidnapping of Nicolás Maduro are illegal, dangerous violations of international and US law that put us all at risk. The Trump Administration is continuing an agenda of US interventionism in Latin America that has only led to human rights violations, democratic backsliding, economic destabilization, deep poverty, genocide, and mass migration. History has shown us that peace and democracy in Latin America have never been realized through unauthorized United States military intervention,” said Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez in a statement to media.

Many protestor held signs reading “No Blood for Oil” and “No U.S. War on Venezuela.” Others held up signs that read “Hands off Venezuela” and “Hands off Latin America.”

“The Trump administration’s military action in Venezuela violates international law and dangerously escalates the possibility of full-scale war. The illegal actions by the Trump administration have nothing to do with defending the Venezuelan people; they are solely about oil and power,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. Several organizations co-sponsored the event advertised as a “NO WAR ON VENEZUELA” emergency protest, including the Anti-War Committee, the Black Alliance for Peace, Chicago Area Peace Action, Party for Socialism and Liberation and the Illinois Green Party, among others. During a press conference after Maduro’s capture, Trump said U.S. will “run” Venezuela at least temporarily and that U.S. oil companies were prepared to make large investments in the country.

“I strongly condemn Trump’s strikes and regime change operation in Venezuela, which he undertook without Congressional consultation and in violation of international law. Trump’s actions will not stop fentanyl trafficking, as Venezuela doesn’t produce any. Instead, in an imperialist assertion of hemispheric control, Trump’s actions open the doors to his own self-enrichment and that of his oil-executive donors. The American people overwhelmingly oppose military action against Venezuela. Speaker Johnson must reconvene Congress so that we can be briefed on this matter and vote to oppose further attacks,” said Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García.

Maduro was first indicted in March 2020, during the first Trump administration. The overruling indictment unsealed Saturday adds new co-defendants and alleges that for more than 25 years, Maduro and his associates partnered with drug cartels including Tren de Aragua to distribute cocaine to the U.S. The next proceeding is set for March.

Photo Credit: Anti-War Committee