March in Caracas demands Maduro’s release and denounces US interference

Thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets of Caracas this Tuesday (3) in the Great March that demanded the release of former president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Called by the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), the mobilization marked one month since the couple’s capture by United States military forces and traveled along the capital’s main avenues towards the Miraflores Palace.

Dressed mostly in red, the color symbol of Chavismo, and white in defense of peace, protesters carried posters, flags and dolls of the character “Super Mustache”, a popular representation of Maduro. The slogans echoed in defense of the leader’s return and against what they classify as “kidnapping” and violation of national sovereignty.

Slogans, symbols and popular unity

Along the route, sound trucks filled the march with songs and slogans such as “The homeland has arrived, peace has arrived, because Venezuela needs Nicolás”. Banners with images of Maduro and Flores reinforced the message of unity and continuity of the Bolivarian project, while entire families participated in the event.

For many present, the mobilization expressed not only solidarity with the couple, but also the defense of their own model of democracy and development. “The empire kidnapped them, we want them back”, said one of the posters displayed along the route.

Nicolasito highlights anti-imperialist awareness

In a speech to the crowd, deputy Nicolás Maduro Guerra, known as Nicolasito, stated that the Venezuelan people have built a “deep anti-imperialist consciousness” and reaffirmed their willingness to fight for a sovereign path. According to him, the defense of the Bolivarian project involves strengthening agriculture, industry and the oil sector as levers of social development.

The speech was received with applause and shouts of support, in an atmosphere of commotion and confidence in popular mobilization as an instrument of political pressure.

One month after capture, pressure for return and peace

Maduro and Cilia Flores have remained detained in a US federal prison since the January 3 military incursion. For the protesters, the couple’s release is a condition for institutional normalization and peace in the country. This Tuesday’s march reinforced the view that the current crisis has an external origin and that the response must come from national unity.

Upon arriving near Miraflores, the concentration turned into a political-cultural act, with musical performances and speeches that reiterated Venezuela’s commitment to sovereignty and self-determination.

The Grand March in Caracas is part of a series of demonstrations that have been taking place since the capture of the former president. For the organizers, the massive presence on the streets demonstrates that a significant portion of Venezuelan society remains mobilized, demanding the release of its leaders and reaffirming the country’s right to decide its own destiny without external interference.