Photos: In St. Pete, activists rally against US conflict with Venezuela

A group of diverse protesters marches down a city sidewalk, holding signs and two large banners, one reading "HANDS OFF VENEZUELA" and another reading "Students for a Democratic Society." A coalition of activist groups, including The Party for Socialism and Liberation, Students for a Democratic Society and other immigrant rights groups rallied together and protested the United States military’s deployment and targeting of suspected drug trafficking boats which has resulted in the deaths off all crew members in the Caribbean. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Over 50 demonstrators gathered by Mirror Lake protesting the U.S. military forces off the coast of Venezuela. They said they are frustrated with these actions by the Trump Administration and want the U.S. to stay away
Multiple demonstrators said this is another example of the Trump Administration trying to escalate military forces. They said this is asserting dominance on an existing issue.

President Donald Trump has said these vessels are transporting drugs in the U.S., but demonstrators said this is a lie.

Adam Shils is a Pinellas resident who said this is just another distraction by the administration.

“This isn’t because of any drug danger from Venezuela. As a matter of fact, there is very little drug movement from Venezuela into the United States. It’s about the U.S. reasserting itself as a global power,” Shils said while holding a sign saying this is about oil.

Multiple demonstrators agreed with Shils that this is not about drugs. Leo Gonzalez is a community organizer of the Party for Socialism and Liberation and he said this has happened to Panama and Nicaragua.

“The us used drugs as an excuse to cause interference and put a public government on behalf the the united states and I think this is whats going to happen here,” Gonzalez said.

He said there have been over 37 fishermen deaths caused by the airstrikes.

“Neither the administration or the Venezuelan government has provided any information that these were drug boats,” Gonozlez said.

He also said the escalation of military use by the U.S. is unacceptable and the government should be focusing on what is happening here, instead of wars abroad.

Another demonstrator, Daniel Meininger of Students for a Democratic Society said this is illegal and violates international law.

“Congress has already tried to introduce War Powers resolutions, which have failed, and so it’s going to rely on us, the people, to be able to fight back,” He said.

After listening to multiple speakers, demonstrators began marching downtown, chanting U.S. out of Venezuela and holding signs.

Protest signs lay on the ground as a coalition of activist groups, including The Party for Socialism and Liberation, Students for a Democratic Society and other immigrant rights groups rallied together and protested the United States military’s deployment and targeting of suspected drug trafficking boats which has resulted in the deaths off all crew members in the Caribbean. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

A coalition of activist groups, including The Party for Socialism and Liberation, Students for a Democratic Society and other immigrant rights groups rallied together and protested the United States military’s deployment and targeting of suspected drug trafficking boats which has resulted in the deaths off all crew members in the Caribbean. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

A reactionary individual heckles the group as a coalition of activist groups, including The Party for Socialism and Liberation, Students for a Democratic Society and other immigrant rights groups rallied together and protested the United States military’s deployment and targeting of suspected drug trafficking boats which has resulted in the deaths off all crew members in the Caribbean. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay