Peace rally against Venezuelan government held in Union Square

Venezuelan nationals gather in Union Square on Saturday to protest violence in their homeland.

Venezuelan nationals, many with relatives still in the torn nation, packed Union Square for a Saturday solidarity rally against their homeland’s government.

Hundreds of protesters sang the Venezuelan national anthem and waved the nation’s yellow, blue and red flag while calling for calm as tensions escalated in their homeland.

“Students, moms and kids, regular families, are being shot and abducted from the streets,” said Angelica Guvernez, a semifinalist for Miss Venezuela 1998.

“More than 135 people are missing. Hundreds of people are missing. I have an obligation as a Venezuelan to let the world know what’s going on.”

Rally and anti-rally activists clash during the Manhattan demonstration against government violence in Venezuela.

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One sign-waving protester delivered a more pointed message to the current administration: “Stop killing my cousins.”

The Manhattan rally stepped off as Venezuelans marched through the streets of Caracas in dueling demonstrations over the rule of President Nicolas Maduro.

At least nine people were killed and 100 injured last week when the government cracked down on the opposition. Maduro is under attack for the soaring crime, rising inflation and food shortages in the oil-rich nation.

Angelica Guvernez, a semifinalist for the 1998 Miss Venezuela competition, joins activists at the Union Square peace rally.

Martha Polanco, 28, said relatives in both the U.S. and in Venezuela were upset by the recent violence.

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“We are kind of feeling hopeless,” she said. “It’s hard to fight when someone has all of the power and all of the guns. I know one guy who’s shot in the eye.”

She said relatives in South America were afraid to use their cell phones on the street for fear of getting robbed.

Native Venezuelan Annelise Von Bergen Granell said she was worried about returning home when her work visa expires in eight months.

“It’s hard to get basic things like toilet paper,” she said. “Venezuela is very violent. You really don’t know what’s going on. They’re trying to hide information.”

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