ALBANY, N.Y. (WRGB) — Dozens of protesters gathered in Townsend Park, Albany, demanding that the United States cease its involvement in Venezuela and release deposed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. Peter LaVenia, co-chair of the Green Party of New York, called for the release of Maduro.
“Stop meddling in their politics. End the sanctions and let Venezuela be a free, independent country once again,” he said.
LaVenia argued that capturing a sovereign head of state is against international law.
“The United States essentially conducted an act of aggression, according to the United Nations; both countries are a part of that charter. I mean, this is illegal, you cannot do this,” he said.
U.S. officials, however, maintain that the operation was legal, with the Justice Department having arrested two individuals who face criminal charges. Maduro has since appeared in a New York court, indicted on narco-terrorism charges.
Earlier this week, President Trump referred to the new Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez as a U.S. ally against other foreign countries.
“We don’t wanna have China there. And by the way, we don’t want Russia or China going to Greenland, which, if we don’t take Greenland, you’re gonna have Russia or China as your next-door neighbor. That’s not gonna happen,” he said.
Following Maduro’s arrest, President Trump has expressed interest in taking over Greenland.
LaVenia criticized this decision, calling it alarming and a blatant disregard for foreign policy.
“The idea that nothing can stop him except his own morality it’s against the constitution and it’s against the treaties and the international law the United States helped construct over the last 50 years,” he said.
LaVenia urged leaders in Washington to focus on domestic issues, such as the housing and affordability crisis.
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