In a powerful show of defiance, South Africans took to the streets of Cape Town on Friday, protesting what they call an unlawful US military incursion into Venezuela. The focal point: the January 3 operation that reportedly captured President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, transporting them against their will to New York.
Adderley Street transformed into a sea of activism by midday. Protesters hoisted signs proclaiming ‘Stop US Imperialism’ and ‘Get US Out of Venezuela,’ their voices united in cries of ‘Free Maduro’ and ‘Free Venezuela.’ The South African BDS Coalition, behind the event, appealed for mass participation in the upcoming February 6 International Day Against US Imperialism, linking causes from Palestine to Venezuela.
Global condemnation has mounted since the alleged raid, with fears of escalating conflict. The coalition warned that US belligerence invites worldwide war and economic ruin, framing the incident as a brazen challenge to sovereignty.
Retired pharmacist Michael Tytus, 75, captured the sentiment: ‘America’s actions in Venezuela are illegal—a clear sign of their global bullying.’ He stressed the need for relentless opposition, adding, ‘People aren’t free because of US interference. We’ll protest until they back off.’
Organizer and student Farik Thiba heightened the stakes: ‘This breaks every rule of international law. Venezuela is the beginning; anyone could be next, including us in South Africa.’ He hoped for stronger Global South cohesion to halt the momentum.
This Cape Town rally underscores a widening rift, as nations and activists worldwide decry the US move and rally behind Maduro. With international tensions at a boiling point, the protest signals broader resistance against perceived hegemony.
