Today marks the 100 days since the start of the protests in Venezuela. The protests have left approximately 44 people dead, approximately 3,000 detained, and have resulted in documented cases of torture and other human rights abuses.
The protests, which originally started in Tachira demanding increased security in university campuses, quickly spread throughout the country. By February 12 of this year, the demonstrations were drawing tens of thousands of people out onto the streets of all the major cities in the country, as Venezuelans from all walks of life voiced their displeasure at the government’s mishandling of the country. Among the early causes for protest were inflation, insecurity and scarcity.
While the protests might have calmed down from the peak we saw in late February and early March, demonstrators are still taking to the streets. Below are pictures from around the country today.
What looks like tear gas coming out of an apartment building in Cardenalito:
Bus drivers have blocked a road in protest somewhere in Caracas:
Demonstrator at bat. The “ball”: tear gas canisters. From Barquisimeto:
Demonstrators on the receiving end of tear gas in Maracaibo:
A flaming barricade in Chacao:
In Other News
Speaking from Mexico, Secretary of State John Kerry said that he hoped that sanctions would not be “necessary” against Venezuelan officials found to be responsible for human rights violations, as per Bill S-2142 which is headed to the Senate. Kerry also talked about how important it was to honour the dialogue process. Kerry’s comments on the dialogue mirrored those of Department of State spokesperson Jennifer Psaki, who said that the way forward for the country would be found in dialogue, not sanctions.
In Venezuela 