Venezuela: Anti-Maduro sit-in blocks Caracas roads May 15

Event

On Monday, May 15, hundreds of anti-Maduro protesters blocked major roads throughout Caracas in a daylong sit-in beginning at 07:00 (local time). Demonstrators used branches, rocks, and garbage to block roadways, with many bringing chairs and food to sustain them throughout the day. Similar protests occurred in other major cities across Venezuela.

In separate demonstrations over the weekend, protesters rode horses through Caracas (Saturday) and women delivered letters and flowers to military and police posts on Mother’s Day (Sunday). More protests are expected in the coming days and weeks.

Context

The current wave of protests has virtually paralyzed Caracas, with many schools closed amid the violence and roads regularly blocked by hundreds of thousands of protesters and government forces. At least 39 people have been killed in protests and associated rioting; more than 400 people have been injured and nearly 1300 arrested.

Demonstrators are denouncing a wide range of grievances as well as demanding elections be held. Venezuela has been devastated by a long series of crises affecting the restive country in recent months and years, including a breakdown of the democratic system, major shortages of gasoline, medications, food, and other basic necessities, an alarming spike in rates of violent crime, massive inflation and economic recession, and a resurgence of disease.

Advice

Individuals in Caracas and other Venezuelan cities are advised to limit movements, to strictly avoid all protests and roadblocks due to the likelihood of violence, and to closely monitor the situation.