More than one hundred demonstrators braved frigid temperatures in downtown Ottawa on Sunday, January 4, 2026, to protest the recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.
Protest Details and Demands
The protest, which began just before 1:30 p.m., saw participants marching around the U.S. Embassy. Chants of "hands off Venezuela" and "down, down with Donald Trump" filled the air, alongside slogans like "down with imperialism" and "up with socialism." Many waved Venezuelan flags, while others displayed flags bearing the emblem of the Communist Party of Canada.
The demonstration was a direct response to actions announced by the United States the previous day. The U.S. revealed plans to prosecute President Maduro in New York and declared its intention to oversee Venezuela during a transitional period, though details on the duration and method of this oversight remain unclear.
Voices from the Protest
Protesters linked the current situation to a long history of U.S. intervention in Latin America. Emmanuel Agalleguillos-Cote, a protester of Chilean descent, drew parallels to the U.S.-backed coup that installed Augusto Pinochet.
"The United States has treated Latin America like it’s its own backyard," Agalleguillos-Cote stated. "It thinks these resources belong to them, and it doesn't. It belongs to the people... and not have the U.S. intervene and just coup governments that don’t bend to their whim." He expressed concern about potential further U.S. aggression but also speculated that the event might foster greater unity among Latin American nations and the Global South.
Canadian Government Reaction and Criticism
The protest also served as a critique of the Canadian government's stance. The Communist Party of Canada, which had a significant presence at the event, accused Ottawa of providing a "de facto endorsement of U.S. policy, piracy, murder and kidnapping."
This criticism followed a social media post by Prime Minister Mark Carney on Saturday evening. In the post, Carney stated that Canada stands with the Venezuelan people's "sovereign right to decide and build their own future in a peaceful and democratic society." He added, "Canada has not recognized the illegitimate regime of Maduro since it stole the 2018 election. The Canadian government therefore welcomes the opportunity for freedom, democracy, peace, and prosperity for the Venezuelan people."
The U.S. military operation has sparked mixed reactions globally, with some nations condemning it as an illegal act driven by resource interests, while others have celebrated Maduro's capture. The protest in Canada's capital underscores the deep divisions and strong emotions the event has triggered internationally.
