While Venezuelan citizens Kelly Montano, Josue Diaz, and Daymelis Cayama eagerly awaited the “historic” landing of the plane carrying President Nicolas Maduro to New York on their television screens, numerous activists in Los Angeles described the US attack on the South American nation as “illegal and immoral.” and unconstitutional.”

“Here he comes! Thank God! He’s coming down the stairs!” exclaimed Daymelis, an employee at Full Arepas, a Venezuelan restaurant in downtown Los Angeles.

“I have a friend imprisoned in New York. I can’t imagine what would happen to Maduro if they locked him up with him,” said Kelly, the owner of the business.

“Because of him, many died in the jungle and from hunger,” said Josue. “That man [Nicolas Maduro] is responsible for all of that and more,” added Josue. “A huge number of university students died; thousands of Venezuelans were made political prisoners in this dictatorship; they stole the elections.”

“They told us we had to be content with the little food there was, while they wore their Rolex watches and didn’t care about killing anyone who opposed them,” he added. “That was the thinking of a dictator.”

President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured by the United States, a decision applauded by thousands and condemned by thousands more.

“It shouldn’t be like that,” she said. “However, he’s going to do it. I don’t agree with that, but I imagine [Trump] would make billions of dollars.”

Since the start of the U.S. operation against Venezuela, 115 deaths had been reported, and the U.S. Southern Command showed no mercy at the end of 2025 or on New Year’s Eve.

The deaths caused by the bombings, in the opinion of Josue Diaz, born in Caracas, “were necessary.”

“There had to be bloodshed, and I’m relieved that innocent people, children or the elderly, didn’t die.”“Those who died worked for him [Nicolas Maduro]. I don’t know if they deserved to die, but we knew that would be their end… It was coming,” declared the employee of Full Arepas, while sharing with La Opinion grotesque photographs of the dismembered bodies of Venezuelan soldiers that had been sent to him from his country. “Is it good for the world’s democracies when the United States invades a foreign nation and practically “kidnaps” its president and his wife? “It seems hypocritical [of the United States], and I don’t know the answer. It’s scary and can be dangerous,” commented Juliet Pecker, an IT employee, who was accompanied by her husband, Julio Rivas, from El Salvador. “For now, that’s all I know, and I’m here to celebrate with these people for whom [Maduro’s capture] is a victory,” she added. “There’s a lot of talk in Washington and everywhere else. Who can we believe?”

“No war or bloodshed for oil”

Waving a Venezuelan flag and signs reading “No bloodshed for oil,” dozens of activists condemned the US bombing, including the “kidnapping” of President Maduro. Both John Parker of the Harriet Tubman Center and Carlos Sirah of the Black Alliance for Peace highlighted the “imperialist motives” of the United States and emphasized the need for global solidarity and the resistance of the Venezuelan people.

“The Black Alliance for Peace condemns the US intervention in Venezuela and supports the Venezuelan people in their resistance to the US imperialist war,” said Sirah, during a demonstration at the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Maple Avenue. “We strongly condemn the international illegality of the neo-fascist United States, the violent aggression and flagrant attacks against the human rights of the Venezuelan people and the violations of Venezuela’s sovereignty,” he said, recalling the kidnapping of Jean-Bertrand Aristide in Haiti in 2004, an event that initiated the US occupation of Haiti. John Parker condemned the “brutal aggression and kidnapping” of Nicolas Maduro and his wife by the US government, “by the criminal US government.” “One of the things we should demand is that Trump be imprisoned and that Maduro be released,” he said. “Why did they kidnap Maduro? He has nothing to do with drugs; that’s a lie. And they know it.” Amid a light drizzle, the protesters chanted, “Hands off US in Venezuela!” “No war for oil! No bloodshed for oil!” Ron Gochez, a member of the Union del Barrio organization, indicated that the protest was about international solidarity from the working class to defend anyone under attack.“What happened in Caracas and throughout Venezuela was a cowardly and criminal attack, which even violates the United States’ own imperial laws,” she emphasized. “The Empire, under Trump’s leadership, did not obtain congressional support for this attack, which, by default, makes it illegal under US imperial laws. It violates all international laws regarding respect for the sovereignty of a sovereign state and goes against the principles of democracy, because we know, even though the United States lies, Nicolas Maduro was democratically elected by the people of Venezuela.” “Maria,” a member representing the Community Self-Defense Coalition, highlighted “the direct connection between the terror we are experiencing here at home [because of the immigration raids] and the terror currently plaguing Venezuela, Palestine, and all parts of the world: imperialism.” The Latina activist considered it the duty of all citizens to oppose “these fascist attacks,” adding that U.S. imperialism is the cause of migration. “That is why people are fleeing bombs. People are fleeing these endless wars, wars fought to obtain oil, to obtain resources, and which have killed millions of people,” she stated. “We must stop this now. We cannot sacrifice our children for oil. We cannot exchange their blood for oil. That is what is at stake. We must stand united against the war that affects all the peoples of the world, including Venezuela and the United States. Let us denounce anyone who joins ICE or the military. They are not protecting our homeland. They are terror,” she concluded.He added that U.S. imperialism is the cause of migration. “That’s why people are fleeing bombs. People are fleeing these endless wars, wars fought for oil, for resources, that have killed millions,” he stated. “We must stop this now. We cannot sacrifice our children for oil. We cannot trade their blood for oil. That is what is at stake. We must stand united against the war that affects all the peoples of the world, including Venezuela and the United States. Let us denounce anyone who joins ICE or the military. They are not protecting our homeland. They are terror,” he concluded.He added that U.S. imperialism is the cause of migration. “That’s why people are fleeing bombs. People are fleeing these endless wars, wars fought for oil, for resources, that have killed millions,” he stated. “We must stop this now. We cannot sacrifice our children for oil. We cannot trade their blood for oil. That is what is at stake. We must stand united against the war that affects all the peoples of the world, including Venezuela and the United States. Let us denounce anyone who joins ICE or the military. They are not protecting our homeland. They are terror,” he concluded.