Protests Erupt In Venezuela Over Political Corruption

doitvoluntarily (77)in #politics • 8 years ago (edited)

A number of protesters in Venezuela have vowed to engage in “rolling street protests” against the current leader of the country-Nicolas Maduro. Many citizens in the country have publicly labelled him a dictator and they've taken to protesting by blocking highways, waving banners, marching, and more.

The increased controversy comes after just recently the Supreme Court in the country, said to be pro-government, sought to take control of the National Assembly. This decision in-effect would dissolve the elected legislature and would allow for the court to simply write laws itself without opposition.

For many years now the international community has watched Venezuela slowly deteriorate. Citizens there are dealing with high inflation, along with strict controls over food and other daily necessities, goods, and services. The starvation has gotten so bad that animals have even been stolen from zoos, and thousands have marched to nearby countries like Colombia in order to get food, toilet paper, and other items.

solidarity protest in Washington DC

Opposition leaders to the current Venezuelan leader, like Leopoldo Lopez, have been arrested and allegedly undergone torture; kept in horrible conditions and cut-off from communication with family and others.

This recent move by the Supreme Court in the country only pushes the nation further toward dictatorship. And many in the country aren't going to sit by silently while it happens.