Anti-war protests spread nationwide after US forces seize Venezuela's President Maduro

WASHINGTON, DC: A wave of anti-war demonstrations has swept across the United States on Saturday, January 3, following the dramatic capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by US forces.

In cities ranging from Boston to Los Angeles, Americans have taken to the streets to express their fierce opposition to President Donald Trump’s military operation, voicing concerns that the intervention will lead to prolonged bloodshed driven by a desire to control the nation's oil reserves.

Organizers estimate that emergency protests are taking place in over 100 cities this weekend. 

Protesters say 'hands off Latin America'

Outside the White House, dozens of protesters converged in a show of opposition to the Trump administration’s Venezuela operation. 

Demonstrators waved Venezuelan flags and held placards reading “No War on Venezuela” and “No blood for oil,” chanting slogans condemning what they described as US interventionism.

Activists warned that the raid risked dragging the country into yet another foreign conflict without public consent.

“US hands off Latin America” reportedly echoed repeatedly through the crowd, capturing a broader belief that the operation trampled international norms and regional sovereignty under the banner of national security.

From Times Square to the Twin Cities

The backlash quickly spilled beyond Washington.

In New York City, protesters packed Times Square outside a US Army recruiting office, hoisting signs denouncing what they called a reckless war push.

Boston saw chants of “No more blood for oil / Hands off Venezuelan soil,” alongside banners declaring, “Venezuela’s Not The Problem. Empire Is.”

In Minneapolis, crowds waved Venezuelan flags and held signs reading “Free President Maduro.”

Similar protests unfolded in Atlanta, while larger demonstrations were slated for later in the day in Chicago and Los Angeles.

Grassroots groups condemn escalation in Venezuela

Organizing groups, including The People’s Forum and the ANSWER Coalition, issued condemnations, framing the operation as corporate-driven warfare.

The ANSWER Coalition blasted the raid as “an outrageous escalation in a campaign of murder,” arguing that it had nothing to do with democracy.

“This is about stealing Venezuela’s oil and dominating Latin America,” the group said, warning that working-class Americans - not defense executives - will pay the price. 

The People’s Forum echoed the charge, citing polling that claimed the majority of Americans opposed a new war and demanded that taxpayer money be redirected to healthcare, housing, and wages at home.

Over 100 cities mobilize

Organizers say the movement is rapidly expanding. Demonstrations were scheduled on Saturday in major cities, including Philadelphia, Seattle, and San Francisco, alongside rallies in smaller communities from Bemidji, Minnesota, to Dothan, Alabama.

More protests are planned for Sunday in Detroit, Austin, Nashville, and New Orleans, signaling a sustained national pushback against what critics view as unilateral military adventurism dressed up as a foreign policy victory.

Tensions rise ahead of arraignment

As protests swell nationwide, Maduro is being transported to the United States ahead of an expected arraignment in Manhattan federal court early next week.

While the administration prepares to unveil formal charges, demonstrators say their fight is just beginning.

They argue that America’s “war machine” continues to consume billions in taxpayer dollars even as families struggle with inflation, healthcare costs, and housing insecurity - fueling a domestic revolt that shows no sign of cooling.