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I spent May filming at the Venezuelan Embassy in DC as an unusual power struggle occurred.
Today, many activists who were inside the embassy are in Venezuela itself. This has triggered some arguing over the situation.
Here's the 24 raw videos I produced: youtube.com/playlist?list=…
Today, many activists who were inside the embassy are in Venezuela itself. This has triggered some arguing over the situation.
Here's the 24 raw videos I produced: youtube.com/playlist?list=…
This whole thing began in January, when the Trump administration declared it would acknowledge @jguaido rather than @maduro_en as the president of Venezuela. When @codepink went to protest at the embassy, the staff invited them in.
Months later, the (Maduro) embassy staff left ahead of a deadline imposed by Trump admin. The staffers left @codepink with keys to hold space. Here's what it looked like the night ahead of the deadline (interview with @medeabenjamin)
As May began, the pro-Guaido side started showing up, and setting up encampments around the embassy, to prevent resources from getting inside.
By this time, police made it impossible for anyone to go in or out.
By this time, police made it impossible for anyone to go in or out.
May 9th landed a few blows for the "Embassy Protection Collective" as an attempted food delivery failed leaving one activist injured and arrested, and the electricity was shut off for the people inside.
That day, pro-Guaido activists held a press conference, demanding that Codepink lose their non-profit status and that the embassy be seized.
During the Spanish language part of the presser, they were interrupted by activists inside.
During the Spanish language part of the presser, they were interrupted by activists inside.
On the same day, @medeabenjamin and @BrianBeckerDC on the anti-Guaido side held a presser as well, but it was almost impossible due to interruptions from the other side. They got a few words in with the press at a nearby coffee shop.
Over next couple days, I conducted long-form street interviews with two major players from each side:
Pro-Guadio:
@dilianna:
@myteks:
Anti-Guaido:
@tangibleunknown:
Kei Pritzker:
Pro-Guadio:
@dilianna:
@myteks:
Anti-Guaido:
@tangibleunknown:
Kei Pritzker:
On May 13, food and water were dwindling. Activists attempted to get resources inside by rope, but police cut the line. The attempt was unsuccessful.
The following day, police tried to put a stop to it. Only 7 remained inside, so police threatened arrest. 3/7 (two of whom were media) left.
The police breached the front door but failed to remove the remaining 4.
The police breached the front door but failed to remove the remaining 4.
Still lacking resources inside, @codepink got the support of @RevJJackson, who helped make a delivery. Four bags of resources (food, water, batteries) made it in after a physical confrontation with a Guaido supporter, but this time cops stayed out of it.
Finally on May 16, police raided the building and arrested the final four. Those four each face a single year in prison. They say the raid itself violated international law.
What brings this all into focus today is that some of the activists themselves are now in Venezuela itself, receiving the praise of Maduro.
While America considers the conflict over on their own soil, it remains to be seen what will happen in Venezuela.
While America considers the conflict over on their own soil, it remains to be seen what will happen in Venezuela.
