Photo by Gary Raynaldo / Protesters rally on New York’s Wall Street  against potential US military intervention in Venezuela Feb. 23, 2019.

By Gary Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC TIMES

About 500 protesters marched on Wall Street Saturday demanding “No War On Venezuela!”  The demonstration was one of many held around the world to command the United States  ‘cease all hostile actions against Venezuela, lift all sanctions, stop backing a coup, and cease all efforts to destroy the country’s economy’, according to the rally’s organizers.  Activists believe the  Trump administration is beating the drums of war with its staunch backing of opposition leader Juan Guaidó , who declared himself interim president on January 23, 2019.  The rally organizers accuse the US of planning to create a military provocation with Venezuela from Colombia “under the guise of trying to force humanitarian supplies”  into territorial Venezuela without cooperation from the government . Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro has called Donald Trump’s government a “gang of extremists” and blamed the US for his country’s crisis.  In an interview with the BBC, Maduro said he would not allow humanitarian aid into Venezuela as it was a way for the US to justify an intervention. “They are warmongering in order to take over Venezuela,” he said.

Photo by Gary Raynaldo / March on Wall street, NY Feb. 23, 2019 No War On Venezuela

Video by Gary Raynaldo / Protesters Chant No More War On Venezuela Feb. 23, 2019

Video of Rally Speaker explaining purpose of Wall Street Rally against War

Photo by Gary Raynaldo / Woman evokes famous Marvin Gaye song ‘War Is Not The Answer’ to make her  point.

Venezuela braced for violence after clashes early on Friday left two dead and 15 injured: UK Guardian The US urged the armed forces to allow humanitarian aid to pass peacefully into the country, the day before supporters of presidential challenger Juan Guaidó plan to challenge the authority of Caracas by trying to ship food and medical donations into the country.

Troops Loyal To President Maduro Push Back Foreign Aid convoys From Venezuela’s Border

Trucks laden with U.S. food and medicine returned to warehouses in Colombia after opposition supporters failed to break through lines of troops, who dispersed them with tear gas and rubber rounds, injuring dozens, cncb.com reports. 

Opposition leader Juan Guaido now  proposing that Washington consider “all options” to oust President Maduro.   Does this mean military action by U.S.?

Meanwhile, Venezuela Breaks Diplomatic Relations with Colombia as Guaido Tries to Force Aid In.

Venezuelan President  Maduro announced Saturday that his government had broken diplomatic ties with Colombia after the government there aided opposition activists in seeking to bring the aid into Venezuela. The Columbia diplomats were given 24 hours to leave Venezuela.

Photo by Gary Raynaldo  / Protester waves Venezuela flag at Wall Street Anti-War Rally Feb. 23, 2019

My Video street interview with a supporter of President Trump and the Venezuela opposition leader.

Photo by Gary Raynaldo / The Anti-War Rally was held right  in front of one of President Trump’s office buildings located at 40  Wall Street, NY.

Photo by: Gary Raynaldo / No War On Venezuela Rally protester with sign.