ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Venezuelan and American national anthems filled the air outside of Venezuelan restaurant La Bicicleta in Allentown on Saturday.
It was where a community gathering was held following the capture of Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
“People were happy to see like Maduro’s out,” said Feliz Seijas, who moved to America from Venezuela.
Seijas said early Saturday morning he heard from family, including his sister who lives where the operation was carried out.
“She said we don’t have electricity; we don’t have internet and there was a lot of bombing. So, it was scary too for them because they live in Caracas,” said Seijas.
Josmerlys said she also received an early call from her parents in Venezuela that Maduro had been captured.
“I just had a phone call from my mom, like six phone calls and I just received the call and was like ‘oh my God. Are you serious?’ I screamed so bad because this is like a dream for us,” said Josmerlys.
She said she was born in Venezuela.
“I’m 21 years old and it’s very hard to you know just feel that feeling that your country has been in war, but sometimes we’re going to get free, one day we’re going to get everything and it’s going to be good.”
Josmerlys works with Claudia Canelon at La Bicicleta, who said she also has family in Venezuela.
“I am in shock, Because it’s something that we had been expecting and we heard that it’s going to happen every day, but nothing happened,” said Canelon.
Josmerlys said she is hoping this is the start to a free country.
“My mom and my dad are in Venezuela. They’re very scared, but I believe that they’ll be safe. So, we’re just hoping that everything goes smoothly there,” said Josmerlys.
“It’s just going to take time. Day by day, we’ll see what’s going to happen. Going to just try to talk and we’re just going to wait. People want Maduro out, but what’s going to happen next? That’s now our biggest fear is what’s going to happen?” said Seijas.