Leavenworth protestors react to U.S. action in Venezuela

LEAVENWORTH — An estimated 70 people gathered in Leavenworth on Jan. 4 to protest the Trump administration’s operation that seized Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who face U.S. charges related to narcoterrorism, cocaine importation, and weapons offenses.

The action has provoked a mixed reaction throughout the U.S. and the world, including celebrations of Maduro’s capture and concerns over the Trump administration’s motives and methods.

Over the past year, local group Upper Valley Indivisible (formally NCW United) has organized local protests in alignment with national movements, such as the “Workers Over Billionaires” rally in September and the “No Kings” protest in October. Separately, a handful of protestors have gathered every Sunday afternoon to protest various actions of the Trump administration, not adhering to a specific theme.

When the U.S. announced that it had captured the Venezuelan leader Saturday morning, Upper Valley Indivisible organized a last minute protest, coinciding with the weekly protestors. On Sunday, the usual gathering grew from roughly 10 people to around 70.

“It felt urgent,” said Upper Valley Indivisible organizer Judy Derpack.

Derpack said she got a sense that people were confused, worried and concerned about the implications of the administration’s actions in Venezuela. Derpack quoted a statement from Senator Patty Murray, who admonished the administration’s actions:

“The American people didn’t ask to start a war with Venezuela. They didn’t ask for an indefinite and costly occupation of another country and they didn’t ask for ‘boots on the ground,’ their sons and daughters put in harm’s way. All they asked for were lower prices at the grocery store. Only Congress can authorize war and I absolutely will not support a large-scale military conflict in Venezuela or a dangerous and expensive occupation. What the President has done is unconstitutional, reckless, and will have far-reaching effects well beyond last night’s strikes,” Murray wrote in a statement.

Murray’s statement echoed those of other Washington state lawmakers, including Sen. Maria Cantwell and Reps. Adam Smith, Kim Schrier and Pramila Jayapal, who condemned the Venezuelan dictator but questioned the administration’s actions, which they called unconstitutional. Alternatively, Rep. Michael Baumgartner of Spokane praised the mission.

“Today is a great day for the people of Venezuela and the security of America and the Western Hemisphere. Venezuelan dictator Maduro is a dangerous narco-terrorist who is now where he belongs — in a jail cell,” Baumgartner wrote in a statement.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media