Liberal activists occupy Venezuelan embassy in Washington to oppose Trump policy

[Judi Lynn]

Deirdre Shesgreen, USA TODAY Published 8:52 p.m. ET April 24, 2019 | Updated 8:58 p.m. ET April 24, 2019

WASHINGTON – Liberal activists are bracing for a showdown with the Trump administration Thursday at an unusual location: Venezuela's embassy, a stately four-story building in one of Washington's most exclusive neighborhoods.

That building was vacated earlier this year after President Donald Trump denounced Venezuela's president Nicolas Maduro as illegitimate and recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country's true leader. Maduro quickly blasted the move and recalled most of his diplomatic staff from the U.S., leaving Venezuela's embassy nearly empty.

Now, however, the diplomatic building is filled with left-wing protesters vehemently opposed to the Trump administration's policy. They say the Trump administration is trying to orchestrate a coup in the oil-rich South American nation.

. . .

Flowers and about a dozen others have taken over the building – camping out "24/7" to prevent the U.S. from installing Guaido's diplomats in the building. They've draped banners and signs inside and outside, trying to call attention to what they say is an imperialist U.S. policy. And they're sleeping on couches at night, making sure to clean up after themselves when they use the kitchens and showers.

More:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/04/24/activists-occupy-venezuelan-embassy-confrontation-over-trump-policy/3565968002/

LBN:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142307779

[Judi Lynn]

1. Arresting Members Of The Embassy Protection Collective Would Be Unlawful

by Kevin Zeese / April 24th, 2019

We have told the State Department that if they enter the Venezuelan Embassy they are violating international law and if they arrest members of the Collective for trespass or unlawful entry these will be unlawful arrests. Members of the Collective are in the embassy with the permission of the elected government of Venezuela.

In two messages to the State Department today, the Collective explained that we are not violating the law and if there are unlawful arrests we will pursue legal action to hold people responsible for ordering arrests or making arrests.

We made this clear in writing to the State Department even before April 24th but we reiterated this today after the Secret Service came to the embassy and photographed the outside building to prepare plans to illegally enter the building and make unlawful arrests.

Tonight when the Collective held an amazing forum with John Kiriakou, a former CIA official who spoke about an “Insiders View of US Regime Change,” outside there were Secret Service and DC police. This act of intimidation included not only the threat of arrest but also intimidated journalists some of whom were asked for photo identification and press information. View the forum with John Kiriakou here. During this forum both Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, our lawyer from the Partnership for Civil Justice, and I publicly made the points below so there was a video record of our concerns with the threats from the State Department police and the illegality of any arrests of Collective members.

More:
https://dissidentvoice.org/2019/04/arresting-members-of-the-embassy-protection-collective-would-be-unlawful/

[mr_lebowski]

3. Haha ... you say that as if anything Republicans do can be considered 'unlawful' ...

There's no such thing. IOKIYAR is now the law of the land.

This article may as well be begging IQ45 to order an invasion by armed federal thugs.

He LOVES 'UNLAWFUL'.

It's his bag, baby

[mr_lebowski]

2. They'll likely be evicted tomorrow ... I'm sure IQ45 hates the whole concept of 'Embassies'

and the fact that it's 'their land' even though it's 'in the USA'.

Unless, of course, it's a Country he likes. Which means, one that's either mostly White, or Pays Him Tribute.

I'd not be surprised at all if he wants to abolish the whole 'Embassy' system, world-wide.

Thus, invading Venezuela's in the USA in order to 'root out' a buncha Liberals ... sounds right up his alley.

Great Distraction, too, of course ...

[Judi Lynn]

4. Make that all embassies other than the US embassies, with ambassadors wearing MAGA hats.