A diverse group of progressive groups and activists rallied Tuesday night in Miami to condemn the Trump administration's military actions toward Venezuela.
The protest rally was originally planned at Miami International Airport but was cancelled by local government authorities, according to "U.S. Hands Off Venezuela Coalition" organizers, who blasted the decision as "an attempt to suppress dissent."
They moved the demonstration to the Torch of Friendship on Biscayne Boulevard.
The coalition wants the U.S. end threats of war and economic sanctions against Venezuela. They argue that Venezuela and all Latin American countries have rights to self-determination.
鈥淭he entire Caribbean is at risk when the United States engages in war mongering," said Gisselle Bermudez, of Diaspora Pa鈥檒ante and part of the coalition. "From illegal strikes to sanctions and blockades, U.S. imperialism destabilizes entire regions, fuels violence, and enriches oil companies and the military while ordinary people pay the price."
READ MORE: Coast Guard is pursuing another tanker helping Venezuela skirt sanctions, US official says
In recent days, the U.S. Coast Guard has stepped up efforts to interdict oil tankers in the Caribbean Sea as part of the Republican administration's escalating pressure campaign on Venezuelan
The U.S. Coast Guard on Monday continued for the second day to chase a sanctioned oil tanker that the Trump administration describes as part of a 鈥渄ark fleet鈥� Venezuela is using to evade U.S. sanctions. The tanker, the official added, is flying under a false flag and is under a U.S. judicial seizure order.
It is the third tanker pursued by the Coast Guard, which on Saturday called Centuries that U.S. officials said was part of the Venezuelan shadow fleet.
The Coast Guard, with assistance from the Navy, on Dec. 10, also that the U.S. says operates on the fringes of the law to move sanctioned cargo. That ship was registered in Panama.
after that first seizure, said the U.S. would carry out a 鈥渂lockade鈥� of Venezuela. Trump has repeatedly said that Maduro's days in power are numbered.
Last week, Trump demanded that Venezuela return assets that it seized from U.S. oil companies years ago, justifying anew his announcement of a to or from the South American country.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose agency oversees the Coast Guard, said in a Monday appearance on 鈥淔ox & Friends鈥� that the targeting of tankers is intended to send 鈥渁 message around the world that the illegal activity that Maduro is participating in cannot stand, he needs to be gone, and that we will stand up for our people.鈥�
Meanwhile, the Defense Department, under Trump's orders, continues its campaign of attacks on smaller vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean that it alleges are carrying drugs to the United States and beyond.
At least 104 people have been killed in since early September.
The strikes have faced scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers and human rights activists, who say the administration has offered scant evidence that its targets are indeed drug smugglers and that the fatal strikes amount to extrajudicial killings.
Venezuela鈥檚 Foreign Minister Yv谩n Gil on Monday said he spoke by phone with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, who he said expressed Russia's support for Venezuela against Trump's declared blockade of sanctioned oil tankers.
鈥淲e reviewed the aggressions and flagrant violations of international law that have been committed in the Caribbean: attacks against vessels and extrajudicial executions, and the unlawful acts of piracy carried out by the United States government,鈥� Gil said in a statement.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
