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Earlier, one @codepink activist taken away, a second pro-Maduro activist was actually released. I interviewed here in my livestream (clip here, full livestream at facebook.com/N2Sreports/vid…)
Right now groups from both sides have moved to the North front of the embassy and are arguing with one another there.
Both sides are back to their own sides of the street now. My external phone battery died and I forgot my spare at home, so no more live-streaming, but I’ll try to keep throwing updates onto here.
The opposition activists despise @tangibleunknown, to the point of using her as a meme. She’s currently inside the Embasssy with the “Embassy Protection Collective” and activists printed a photo of her with a rifle from Instagram to brand @codepink as a “communist mob.” 
While there’s been a bit of pushing around so far today, most of the anti-Maduro activism looks a lot like this, banging pots and pans and chanting things like “Free Venezuela!”
Trouble tends to happen when the two sides aren’t on opposite sides of the street.
Trouble tends to happen when the two sides aren’t on opposite sides of the street.
HD Footage: @codepink's @medeabenjamin and @ArielElyseGold led a group of activists to the back of the embassy where they were confronted.
As they left, pro-Guiado activists linked arms to keep the Codepink-led group away from the embassy (where their friends are inside).
As they left, pro-Guiado activists linked arms to keep the Codepink-led group away from the embassy (where their friends are inside).
Here's my HD footage of Tighe Barry being arrested. The Secret Service officer who arrested him says Barry pushed him twice, and that's "why he's in handcuffs." He was taken away. (A second arrestee was let go.)
Barry says he was pushed into the cop by pro-Guiado activists.
Barry says he was pushed into the cop by pro-Guiado activists.
Senator @marcorubio has released this statement about the situation happening right now.
He says he believes the Embassy Protection Collective is "using violence & intimidation" and that "The U.S. recognizes Interim President Juan Guaidó, and Ambassador Carlos Vecchio."
He says he believes the Embassy Protection Collective is "using violence & intimidation" and that "The U.S. recognizes Interim President Juan Guaidó, and Ambassador Carlos Vecchio."
Right now, the sides are pretty separate (see the quick livestream I just did.) loud, but peaceful.
Police are setting up a barrier at the north-west corner of the embassy to block off the north side.
This new barrier is tactically significant, an anti-Maduro activist just explained to me (off camera.)
The territory on the north side is where activists outside were able to get food up to the activists inside.
The area is now closed.
The territory on the north side is where activists outside were able to get food up to the activists inside.
The area is now closed.
Just now: an anti-Maduro activist was arrested less than a minute after the barrier was erected for trying to cross it.
I was literally typing the previous tweet when they grabbed him.
I was literally typing the previous tweet when they grabbed him.
The anti-Maduro folks seem mostly unaware that one or their own was just arrested.
Their concert continues, singing, playing music, using blow horns and pots and pans to make noise.
A lot of activists on both sides brought earplugs.
Their concert continues, singing, playing music, using blow horns and pots and pans to make noise.
A lot of activists on both sides brought earplugs.
The anti-Maduro protester was just loaded into a Secret Service vehicle.
A stark contrast of vision.
“The people’s president” versus “#ArrestMaduro.”
#HandsOffVenezeula / #FreeVenezeula
#Venezuela #VenezuelanEmbasador
“The people’s president” versus “#ArrestMaduro.”
#HandsOffVenezeula / #FreeVenezeula
#Venezuela #VenezuelanEmbasador
The anti-Maduro folks have managed to cover the east side of the building in tents, as well as the west side. The north is now blocked off, as we saw in earlier tweets.
“@codepink is the US imperial invader” claims one sign sitting here.
“@codepink is the US imperial invader” claims one sign sitting here.
To those who may be confused by the geography of the Venezuelan Embassy standoff, I made a map of what it looks like now.
Yellow = Anti-Maduro activists’ encampments and protest space.
Red = Embassy Protection Collective and @codepink / @answercoalition etc.
Blue = Police only
Yellow = Anti-Maduro activists’ encampments and protest space.
Red = Embassy Protection Collective and @codepink / @answercoalition etc.
Blue = Police only
Another person is being arrested right now on the south side of the embassy but it’s not clear to me which - if any - side she’s on.
One person told me that it was for pot.
One person told me that it was for pot.
Woman being arrested is still being searched. She’s clearly on drugs, and apparently it is specifically a drug arrest.
That said, I’m told she was with Muhammad, the anti-Maduro activist who managed to get into the embassy recently. It’s not whether she’s political personally.
That said, I’m told she was with Muhammad, the anti-Maduro activist who managed to get into the embassy recently. It’s not whether she’s political personally.
Taking a quick break, and looking at my HD footage.
My camera was actually running without me knowing and inadvertently captured the moment a pro-Guaido guy snuck through the north-west police line.
The cut in this shot is because I thought I wasn't recording and hit the button
My camera was actually running without me knowing and inadvertently captured the moment a pro-Guaido guy snuck through the north-west police line.
The cut in this shot is because I thought I wasn't recording and hit the button
I always try to film the entirety of police situations, especially volatile ones.
Here's some HD shots from the drug arrest that happened at the embassy. The woman smashed her own head into the police van (1:23 in) and then tried to headbutt the cop, and again her own head.
Here's some HD shots from the drug arrest that happened at the embassy. The woman smashed her own head into the police van (1:23 in) and then tried to headbutt the cop, and again her own head.
Another observation: This standoff is more than noise and occasional scuffles. Watch closely. Here, a pro-Guaidó activist photographs @ArielElyseGold's group chat with other Embassy Protection Collective folks.
Information is a more powerful took than signs, pots and pans.
Information is a more powerful took than signs, pots and pans.
Going through my footage, this may be my favorite shot from today (so far). I pan from an anti-Maduro activist with a picture of @tangibleunknown on his poster to @tangibleunknown herself shouting "hands off Venezuela" from inside the embassy.
Anti-Maduro activists are BLASTING loud rock music and shining lights into the embassy right now.
I’m told that due to noise ordinances, they’ll only be able to do with until 10pm and then start up again at 6am.
The tactic is to bother/keep awake the occupiers inside.
I’m told that due to noise ordinances, they’ll only be able to do with until 10pm and then start up again at 6am.
The tactic is to bother/keep awake the occupiers inside.
Yup, this shows no signs of dying down for a while. At this point I’m going to head home to wrap up publishing my videos from today.
Eventually the police are expected to raid the building, but it seems the Embassy Protection Collective has managed to deter that so far.
Eventually the police are expected to raid the building, but it seems the Embassy Protection Collective has managed to deter that so far.
Journalist @RealAlexRubi looks absolutely miserable. He's been in the @VenezuelaInUS embassy for about a week straight and supplies/people can't get in and out.
He's holding a sign out the window that says "Besieged journalist, NEED CIGARETTES."
#VenezuelanEmbassy
He's holding a sign out the window that says "Besieged journalist, NEED CIGARETTES."
#VenezuelanEmbassy
PREMIERING NOW: Here's my full @N2Sreports video of what happened today at the @VenezuelaInUS Embassy. Four arrests total. But more than anything: NOISE. Today - in a word - was loud.
As always, all footage available to license.
As always, all footage available to license.
