Venezuelan demonstrators gather downtown

On Wednesday, March 5, a group of Venezuelan citizens and sympathizers gathered for a peaceful protest at Ruocco Park in downtown San Diego. The demonstration — to express discontent with the current crisis in Venezuela — started at around 6 p.m.

"I am here supporting Venezuela with the page ‘SOS Venezuela San Diego,’” said Lybia Guevara. “We are here supporting our people because the government is killing them.”

"There is a lack of understanding within the international community,” stated Venezuelan journalist Leo Rivera. “They don't know what it is going on. But let me tell you, human rights have been violated. We are not allowed to express ourselves as freely as we would if we really were in a democracy.”

"I didn't know anything about the struggle in Venezuela until I saw…my friend posting on his Facebook about the struggles and violations,” stated an American sympathizer. “If we don't do something with the censorship going on in Venezuela, then, no one else will.”

Demonstrators decried the killing, torturing, and jailing of students and protesters that have been taking place in Venezuelan cities during the past few weeks. People are expressing their discontent with a regime that has been in power for 15 years. The government has tried to impose a Marxist agenda. As a result, the country’s many problems have been exacerbated.

At the end of the demonstration, participants prayed and asked for a personal wish for Venezuela. Small white balloons were released into the sky.

“Everybody please make a wish together at the same time,” said an organizer. “A wish for Venezuela. Peace for Venezuela. Love for Venezuela. And freedom for Venezuela…”