Georgetown University students joined 50 protestors at the White House Nov. 15 to denounce the federal government’s military attacks on Venezuelan ships.
The protest follows President Donald Trump’s order for the U.S. military to strike alleged Venezuelan drug traffickers, as well as the military buildup in Latin America and potential military operations within Venezuela. The Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), a communist political party formed in 2004, organized the protest, which began in front of the White House before Secret Service agents relocated it to the nearby Lafayette Square.
Alessia Castro Garcia (CAS ’29), who attended the protest, said she was happy to see people unite in defense of Venezuela.
“It was truly heartwarming to see people going out of their way to fight and use their voices for something they believe is morally wrong,” Castro Garcia told The Hoya. “I feel the same way they feel. I don’t think it’s right, and I’m really glad to see that they’re speaking up about it.”
Morgan Artyukhina, who attended the protest with PSL, said U.S. action in Venezuela mirrors previous conflicts.
“The U.S. is trying to launch another devastating war in Latin America against Venezuela, and it’s built on the same lies as the devastating wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and even Vietnam,” Artyukhina told The Hoya. “Racism and demonization enable war, and it’s all in defense of the profits of American companies.”
The Trump administration has ordered 20 attacks on boats off the coast of Latin America suspected of drug trafficking. Trump has discussed diplomatic talks with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro but has not ruled out military action within Venezuelan borders.
Carys Bonitatibus, a student at American University who attended the protest, said it is important to protest even if it fails to create immediate change.
“I believe that we should be fighting for what we believe in even if the administration doesn’t take people’s opinions into account,” Bonitatibus told The Hoya. “Even though they may go through with their own agenda, rather than what’s best for the people inside and outside of our nation, it’s still important to dissent.”
Ann Jaegerman, who attended the protest, said she fears Trump’s actions will start a larger conflict with Venezuela.
“I am very concerned that Trump is going to put us into a war,” Jaegerman told The Hoya. “I don’t think that war will accomplish anything but further damage our reputation in the world and impact people across this country.”
Bonitatibus said protesting with like-minded people bolsters her patriotism.
“Coming from a small town in Florida, I don’t see protests often and people believe in very different things than I do,” Bonitatibus said. “To see people who agree with my stances makes me feel a sense of unity and pride in my country.”
Artyukhina said PSL wants to see funds for military action redirected to social programs, criticizing military spending such as F-35 fighter jets.
“We want to see all of the money that is being used for the U.S. war machine be used on the sorely needed repairs to infrastructure, funding our schools and our hospitals, funding our mass transit system, and going towards housing people,” Artyukhina said. “Why use that money for an F-35 when you can use it to pay people’s rent?”
Artyukhina said the military actions against Venezuela are motivated by a desire for natural resources.
“They are nakedly in pursuit of Venezuelan oil and Venezuelan natural resources, and they don’t care about the sovereignty of the country,” Artyukhina said. “Venezuela is a sovereign nation. They have the right to determine the course of their politics, they have the right to determine what to do with their own resources and the United States doesn’t.”
Venezuelan officials have accused Trump of supporting regime change against Maduro to obtain easier access to Venezuelan oil reserves, which are the most abundant in the world.
Castro Garcia said she views Trump’s maritime attacks as unjustified.
“I do not support aggression with Venezuela, especially if there are troops being sent there for natural resources,” Castro Garcia said. “I think that it is really uncondoned and the people of Venezuela really did not do anything.”
