Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido has taken to the streets with detained activist Leopoldo Lopez and a small contingent of heavily armed soldiers in a military uprising.
“This is the moment of all Venezuelans, those in uniform and those who aren’t,” said Lopez in his first public appearance since being detained in 2014 for leading anti-government protests. “Everyone should come to the streets, in peace.”
Lopez said he has been freed by the military.
Fox News reporter, Kevin Corke, from the White House:
The United States backs Guaido, who they say is the constitutionally elected president of Venezuela.
In a February 18 speech to Florida International University, President Trump said, “On January 23rd, Venezuela’s National Assembly invoked the Venezuelan constitution to declare the President of the National Assembly, Juan Guaidó, as the country’s legitimate leader. In one of his first acts, President Guaidó invoked the same constitutional article that Oscar carried through the skies to notify the world that Maduro was illegitimate.
Within 30 minutes, the United States was proud to be the first nation in the world to recognize President Guaidó.”
Marco Rubio tweeted:
This is the moment for those military officers in #Venezuela to fulfill their constitutional oath & defend the legitimate interim President @jguaido in this effort to restore democracy. You can write history in the hours & days ahead.
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) April 30, 2019
After years of suffering freedom is waiting for people of #Venezuela. Do not let them take this opportunity from you.
Now is the moment to take to the streets in support of your legitimate constitutional government.
Do not allow this moment to slip away. It may not come again
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) April 30, 2019
Additionally, Rubio accused the Chinese of aiding current president, Maduro, by taking down Venezuela’s internet, blocking social media.
After years of suffering freedom is waiting for people of #Venezuela. Do not let them take this opportunity from you.
Now is the moment to take to the streets in support of your legitimate constitutional government.
Do not allow this moment to slip away. It may not come again
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) April 30, 2019
Still, some social media posts have been sent. A tweet from Trish Regan shows Maduro’s attempts to stop the uprising:
Breaking now in #Venezuela – LISTEN: you can hear the #MaduroRegime firing a mix of pellets and live ammo at the people as #NicolasMaduro attempts to repress the uprising. pic.twitter.com/EpVMWm1XCS
— Trish Regan (@trish_regan) April 30, 2019
This is very much a fluid story, and we will report back as new developments and White House reactions become available.
