Thousands of Venezuelans, sympathizers attend rally in Miami demanding Maduro step down

MIAMI — Thousands of Venezuelans living in South Florida gathered at Bayfront Park Saturday afternoon, joining thousands more of their countrymen converging in 300 cities around the planet, all seeking to let the world know that they won’t stop protesting until Nicolás Maduro is removed from power in their homeland.

The world-wide event, organized by opposition leader María Corina Machado, was also held in major Venezuelan cities at significant personal risk, as the Maduro regime continues to hunt down opposition leaders amid what is seen as the greatest challenge to his rule since he ascended to the presidency in 2013.

More than 5,000 people entered or were still standing in line to get into Bayfront Park around 4 p.m. a police officer told The Miami Herald, but the event ran late as more people attempted to get in.

While the air was mostly festive, with people carrying Venezuelan flags and signs asking for freedom, some of the messages carried more serious undertones.

“What we want is for Maduro to go to prison for genocide,” said rally-goer José Jimenez, who was wearing a mask in the shape of a donkey and an orange jacket resembling prison overalls. Hanging from his neck was a mugshot type rendering reading “N. Maduro, crime: Genocide.”

“We are fed up,” Jimenez said, “We are not going to tolerate Maduro’s effort to remain in power perpetually.”

The opposition, as well as a growing number of countries, believe that Edmundo González. a former ambassador to Argentina, was the real winner of the July 28th presidential election, accusing the Venezuelan strongman of attempting to steal the vote.

There were calls for the international community to increase its pressure on the regime from such faraway places as Switzerland, Germany, New Zealand and Australia, while massive gatherings were scheduled in major Latin American cities, as well as in the United States.

Protests against the regime escalated right after the government-controlled National Electoral Council said Maduro had won with nearly 52% of the vote.

The opposition, which has made a credible case showing that Gonzalez won by publishing the official results of 80% of voting stations, has been warning Latin American leaders that it is in their best interest to intervene quickly to help put an end to the crisis, given the risk of another massive wave of Venezuelan refugees fleeing for neighboring countries, and eventually the U.S., if Maduro remains in power.

Gatherings were organized Saturday inside Venezuela, despite the regime’s latest wave of repression, which has led to the deaths of 25 people, injured dozens more and landed more than 2,000 in prison. The crackdown has recently taken a more violent turn, with the regime’s use of armed paramilitary groups witnesses say have opened fire at demonstrators without justification.

In South Florida, thousands gathered at Bayfront Park in an event organized by leaders of the Venezuelan and the Cuban-American ommunity, with the help of city officials. Well known artists performed at the event, mainly sons related to Venezuela’s efforts to recover its democracy.

Artists including Willy Chirino, Arturo Sandoval, Amaury Gutiérrez and Danny Ocean are expected to perform, but organizer María Teresa Morín said there is a serious undertone to the gathering. “This is not a party. All the music and all of the literature that will be heard will be a reminder of the fight for freedom in Venezuela,” she said.

Zarahy Carrera, a young Venezuelan who arrived in Miami seven years ago, said she went to the park because she wanted to show her desire to see the restoriation of freedom in her home country.

“I keep telling all Venezuelans to keep fighting, here and back home,” she saidm “because Venezuela belongs to us all.”