Protests across the country on Monday night made the opposition to US imperialism clear, Counterfire reports

Glasgow

Around 250 protesters gathered on Buchanan Steps on Monday night in Glasgow for an emergency demonstration to condemn US aggression in Venezuela. Speakers condemned the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro as a grave violation of international law, but also called out British PM Sir Keir Starmer, a former human-rights lawyer, for failing to do the same. The crowd chanted support for Venezuela and ‘el pueblo unido jamás será vencido!’ – the people, united, will never be defeated. There was a clear sense that the world has entered a dangerous phase and that the only way to prevent disaster is to fight for change from below. A further demo was announced for Edinburgh on Saturday to protest at the US Consulate.

Vlad Unkovski-Korica

London

On Monday night, Londoners came together to say no to US imperialism.

The rally outside Downing Street was incredibly well-attended, loud, and defiant despite the short notice and freezing temperatures. Speakers from the organising groups Stop the War Coalition, CND and the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign, were joined by MPs, trade-union figures, and other campaigns such as the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Speakers made clear their opposition to this clear example of US imperialism in Trump’s bid for Venezuelan oil.

The 2,000 people in attendance chanted against the US coup in Venezuela, and to condemn Keir Starmer for his refusal to condemn Trump’s actions. Representatives from the RMT, International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, Global Women’s Strike, Cuba Solidarity Campaign and more were in attendance, along with a huge number of Palestine flags and keffiyehs, proving that links are being made between the genocide in Gaza and imperialism elsewhere.

Lucy Nichols

Manchester

There was a massive outpouring of support from communities and activists across Manchester at the emergency demo for Venezuela on Monday night in St Peter’s Square, called by Greater Manchester Stop the War coalition. Members of the Palestine movement were in attendance in Manchester last night as they were the world over. Stop the War’s united-front work came into effect, as Western imperialism can be unpredictable, yet unsurprising, with Trump’s gross and barbaric kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

With authoritarianism in plain sight at home and abroad, we need to escalate our own visibility and voices to counter it, be it Palestine, Venezuela, Sudan, Congo, the Caribbean or Cuba, to take away the base of our own weak politicians’ support if they won’t represent us. This is clearly the opinion of the working classes all over the world, as evidenced by last night’s global protests. The US has sacrificed public opinion for its own imperial interests as much as the pariah state of Israel has over its genocide in Palestine.

The scenes in Manchester and across the globe show that we must ramp up our activism and organise, building the anti-war movement in every city and town.

Thank you to all of you who attended and to our speakers from Anakbayan Manchester (Filipino UK Youth for National Democracy in the Philippines), Cuba Solidarity Campaign, the Morning Star, Manchester Jewish Action for Palestine, Trafford Trades Union Council, Unison Greater Manchester Mental Health Branch, Wigan Trades Union Council, Your Party and a big cheer to the Manchester Drummers for Palestine for making it come alive.

Ross Charnock

Newcastle

Around fifty concerned citizens turned out in Newcastle city centre on Monday evening for a rally, hastily prepared by Stop the War in support of Venezuela and for the release of Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores following their kidnap by the US. The rally heard from trade unionists from Newcastle University UCU and Newcastle Trades Council as well as local South American activists. Jane Byrne, independent councillor for Monument ward and Your Party member also spoke. We finished off with a rousing rendition of ‘Get your dirty hands off Venezuela’ by singer songwriter Ron Brown.

Graham Kirkwood

Bristol

Despite the freezing temperatures, dozens gathered in Bristol City Centre on Monday to stand in solidarity with the people of Venezuela.

There were passionate speeches given by representatives from Bristol STW, Bristol PSC, Bristol Apartheid Free Zone, Bristol TUC, Your Party Bristol, a Green Party Councillor, Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign, University lecturers and Healthcare Workers for Palestine.

The resounding and resolute message being, ‘No to US Imperialism!’ and ‘Hands off Venezuela!’.

The rally ended with strong words of condemnation for US actions in her country from a Venezuelan comrade. Afterwards she told me, “I will send these videos from tonight home to my friends and family in Venezuela, so that they know they are not alone”.

It was worth standing in the cold, just for that. Bristol stands with Venezuela!

Lauren Simmonds

Birmingham

On Tuesday night, 40-50 people braved the appalling weather to protest America’s strikes on Venezuela. Of note was the concentration of trade unionists. Stuart Richards, the secretary of Midlands TUC, spoke as did executive members of the local trades council and NEU. The trade union movement in this country has been quick to condemn Trump’s terror attacks and it was inspirational to see this reflected locally.