Venezuelan Community in Charleston to hold ‘Protest for the Truth’ Saturday

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – The Venezuelan community in Charleston is set to gather for a demonstration titled “Protest for the Truth” in response to the recent controversial election results in Venezuela.

The event will take place on Saturday, August 17, at James Island County Park, with doors opening at 4 p.m. and the protest beginning at 5 p.m.

This gathering is part of a global movement initiated by Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who has called for worldwide protests starting on August 10, 2024. The goal of these protests is to mobilize the Venezuelan diaspora, which numbers around 7.7 million people, as well as supporters worldwide, against the current regime led by Nicolás Maduro. The demonstrations aim to advocate for truth and justice for the Venezuelan people.

The protests follow the disputed election held on July 28, 2024, in which Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner with 52% of the vote, securing his third six-year term as president. However, the opposition claims that they have evidence showing a significant victory for their candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, based on copies of more than 80% of the voting records.

The announcement of Maduro’s victory sparked widespread protests across Venezuela, resulting in 25 deaths and over 2,400 arrests in the days following the election.

Charleston will join more than 300 cities around the globe in participating in this day of protest, standing in solidarity with the Venezuelan people in their fight for democracy and transparency.

Event Details:

• What: Protest for the Truth – Charleston Demonstration
• When: Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 5:00 PM (doors open at 4:00 PM)
• Where: Wappoo Shelter, James Island County Park, 871 Riverland Dr., Charleston, SC 29412

For more information, please contact Fernando Soto at 843-732-4202.