With Venezuela holding a massive protest today dubbed the “Mother Of All Protests” to challenge the rule of president Maduro, who meanwhile has ordered the army into the streets, while summoning a counterprotests, violence seemed inevitable and moments ago Reuters reported that a young protester was shot in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas.
#19Abril OTRO HERIDO MAS …víctima de la Represión del Dictador Colombiano en #Venezuela pic.twitter.com/Rz3fw8H2Eh #19VzlaEnLaCalle
— GANA_ANZOATEGUI (@LEONHARIO) April 19, 2017
While Reuters was unable to immediately obtain further details on the incident, witnesses said the man was shot in the head.
Venezuela protester shot in the head this morning is still alive, in emergency surgery at Caracas clinic https://t.co/2NgXWgwlxu
— Nick Miroff (@NickMiroff) April 19, 2017
As reported before, Venezuela’s opposition began the “mother of all protests” on Wednesday, accusing President Nicolas Maduro of resorting to dictatorial measures to quash popular outrage over a deepening economic crisis.
In the culmination of a fortnight of violent demonstrations that have killed five people, protesters around the country will demand the government present a timeline for delayed elections, halt a security crackdown on protests, and respect the autonomy of the opposition-led legislature.
Recent marches have repeatedly ended in clashes between demonstrators and security forces. Youths throwing rocks have squared off against security forces spraying tear gas in melees that have dragged on well into the evening.
The shooting has taken place despite appeals for a peaceful protests.
Photos on the ground suggest that the protest is set to be one of the largest in recent history:
Oposición y chavismo se miden en megamarchas bajo alta tensión en Venezuela pic.twitter.com/h3cNvRWEy9
— Ruben Chacon (@ruben_chaconn) April 19, 2017
Guaros tomaron las calles en el Día de la Independencia por Venezuela https://t.co/q05A6xzMI7 pic.twitter.com/dCD9JKN61m
— La Prensa de Lara (@laprensalara) April 19, 2017
Esta es la foto de Venezuela dividida: los oficialistas marchan de rojo y a su lado… https://t.co/iO3FR5xcPe by #CNNEE via @c0nvey pic.twitter.com/JCUJ3Girwf
— Gaby Martinez (@gabytagrinch) April 19, 2017
Venezuela se manifiesta hoy con La madre de todas las marchas #19avenezuelaenlacalle #19abril #19VzlaEnLaCalle https://t.co/FnEcjqvFW2
— MentePost (@mentepost) April 19, 2017
Venezuela: un manifestante opositor fue herido de bala y está en estado crítico https://t.co/0GSYyWjKPY #NM935 pic.twitter.com/k5sbukc3uf
— Noticias Monumental (@MonumentalCR) April 19, 2017
@dw_espanol @oschlenkernews LUCHADO POR LA DEMOCRACIA POR UNA MEJOR VENEZUELA pic.twitter.com/HDz8aVZNOe
— ceferino (@noestoyjugando) April 19, 2017
#Ahora | Venezuela quiere caminar por el sendero de la paz y hoy lo demuestra con su apoyo al pdte. @NicolasMaduro pic.twitter.com/HxUtTK1GQr
— IADMSS (@IADMSS) April 19, 2017
Live feed from Caracas courtesy of NTN24:
