From the early morning hours of Thursday, March 26, social movements in the United States gathered in front of the Southern District Court of New York to express their support for the constitutional president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, First Lady Cilia Flores, who were appearing for their second court hearing.
“Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores are prisoners of war,” proclaimed the thousands of protesters gathered outside the courthouse in Manhattan, waving tricolor flags and carrying banners denouncing the kidnapping of the presidential couple following the U.S. military incursion into Venezuelan territory on January 3, 2016. They demanded respect for the detainees’ sovereign immunity.
The protesters carried signs that read “Bring them back,” “Free President Maduro,” “Free Cilia Flores,” and “Hands off Venezuela.” The demonstrators chanted slogans such as “We want justice, you say how?” to which the crowd responded, “Free Maduro right now!” The chant was repeated with the cry, “Hands off… Venezuela!”
The atmosphere in Manhattan is one of absolute surveillance, with a maximum security operation guarding the perimeter where the hearing is taking place.
Meanwhile, in Venezuela, citizens, social groups, and organizations continue to demonstrate their support for their constitutional president and his wife through religious and community activities, as well as marches held in different regions of the country.
This Thursday, emblematic locations in Caracas, such as Plaza Bolívar and the 4F Mountain Barracks, were the scene of gatherings where support for Maduro and Flores was reaffirmed, while their release was demanded.
Furthermore, they took the opportunity to call for an end to the blockade, a measure they consider necessary to improve care in hospitals, as well as the education and electricity systems, roads, and other essential services.
On March 26, the second hearing for President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who have been held captive in the United States for 83 days, will take place.
The first hearing was held on January 5, 2016. In his initial statements before a New York court, the constitutional president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, declared himself a “prisoner of war” and categorically rejected the charges against him, reaffirming his status as the legitimate head of state of the Bolivarian Republic.
“I am not guilty, I am a decent man, I am still the president of my country,” Maduro stated before the judge, establishing a fundamental distinction between his role as a democratically elected head of state and the charges Washington is attempting to bring against him.
The First Lady of Venezuela, Cilia Flores, also declared her innocence of the charges against her and requested a consular visit for herself and President Maduro.
IMAGE CREDIT: Protesters with flags and banners express their support for the constitutional president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, in New York. Photo: teleSUR
[ SOURCE: teleSUR ]
