An emergency protest was called on the corner of Blackstone and Nees avenues to denounce the U.S. “occupation” of Venezuela on Saturday.
The United States launched a large-scale military strike on Venezuela on Jan. 3, including air and ground operations that rocked the capital, Caracas, with explosions and low-flying aircraft.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of the country to face charges in U.S. courts. Maduro arrived in a Brooklyn jail in the afternoon, the same day as his arrest.
Corey Seabloom, a Jan. 3 protester, said that this situation is a part of a much larger issue of the United States’ relations with other nations.
Seabloom says U.S. actions in Venezuela resemble its treatment of other countries like Iran and Sudan, calling the United States “self-serving” for its actions abroad.
“I’d say we’re going down there … [for] selfish issues,” Seabloom said.
On Dec. 6, 2025, there was a similar protest in Fresno to denounce the U.S. military’s decision to attack Venezuelan boats in the Atlantic.
Jerry Bill, a member of Peace Fresno, called the United States’ actions in Venezuela illegal. He says the reason why he wanted to come out was to denounce those actions.
“This is illegal under U.S. law, illegal under international law and somebody needs to say something about it,” Bill said. “Silence gives consent and I don’t want to be silent about it.”
Bill also says that this sets a dangerous precedent for U.S. international relations.
Background
The strike followed the Trump administration’s months-long plan to apply pressure on Maduro, his government and Venezuelan drug cartels, which included the buildup of American forces in the waters off South America and attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean accused of carrying drugs. Since these naval operations, the U.S. has been more aggressive and direct with their actions regarding Venezuela.
Trump also blames Maduro for Venezuelans entering the United States. Trump claims this has led to an influx of drugs, like fentanyl and cocaine, and cartels in America.
Last week, the CIA was found to be behind a drone strike at a docking area believed to have been used by Venezuelan drug cartels; this is the first direct operation on Venezuelan soil since the U.S. began strikes in September.
As of Friday, the number of known boat strikes was 35 and the number of deaths from the boat strikes is at least 115, according to the Trump administration.
Trump said that the U.S. is engaged in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels and has justified the boat strikes as necessary to stem the flow of drugs into the U.S.
The strikes that hit Caracas on Saturday also hit other states like Miranda, with reports of explosions and damage at major military installations. Power flickered out in parts of the capital amid the strikes, and social media was filled with videos of blasts and airborne military jets.
Trump’s announcement came via social media and later in a press conference, where he described the operation as a success and claimed the U.S. would remain deeply involved in shaping Venezuela’s future.
During a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump revealed that Venezuela is under American control and could deploy U.S. military forces if deemed necessary for security.
“We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump said. “We can’t take a chance that someone else takes over Venezuela who doesn’t have the interests of Venezuelans in mind.”
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is part of a core team, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, designated by Trump to temporarily run Venezuela during a transition period.
Hegseth praised a “flawlessly executed” joint military and law enforcement raid that resulted in the capture of Maduro and his wife. He went on to praise Trump, saying he is “deadly serious” about Venezuela and the U.S. occupation of the country.
Hegseth claimed that Maduro “had his chance” to avoid his capture and attack on Venezuelan soil.
“He effed around and he found out,” Hegseth said.
Venezuelan officials have denounced the attacks as unjustified aggression that threw the nation into chaos and uncertainty.
Maduro’s party leaders have accused the United States of targeting and attacking civilian and military institutions, calling it an “imperialist attack” and calling on their citizens to take to the streets.
After the couple was captured and escorted out of the country, an unsealed indictment from the U.S. District Court in Manhattan, posted by Attorney General Pamela Bondi on X, says that Maduro and his wife are being charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy — along with four others.
“For over 25 years, leaders of Venezuela have abused their positions of public trust and corrupted once-legitimate institutions to import tons of cocaine into the United States,” the indictment says.
Another Fresno protest will be held on Jan. 7 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Robert E. Coyle Federal Courthouse.