S.O.S. Venezuela Rally Held In Doral
DORAL (CBSMiami) – A rally for Venezuela took place in Doral Saturday afternoon.
The rally, called S.O.S. Venezuela, was in support of students and protesters in Venezuela who are standing up against President Nicolas Maduro's regime.
The event, at J.C. Bermudez Park, drew more than a thousand people.
"It is really very sad to see your country being like this, destroyed day by day by the government," said Silvia Rojas, who moved to South Florida from Venezuela last summer.
"We've been living almost 16 years already with this government destroying the country. I am one of the Venezuelans who came flying away from all these problems, but my family - my dearest family, parents, brothers, sister, friends are still in Venezuela living in this horrible situation," Rojas added. She said her family faces food shortages and fear. "They're afraid to be in the street because they can be killed," Rojas said.
Chris Baasch is an Amercian citizen, but has been living in Venezuela for the past 40 years. Baasch is visiting South Florida on vacation and joined the rally. He says he's worried for the future of Venezuela, a country he now calls home.
"You try to go to the grocery store and there's very little on the shelves sometimes people stand in lines 300 yards long to get a package of cornmeal. People who have little kids can't get liquid milk or powdered milk so they stand in line for hours hoping they get a chance," he said.
S.O.S Venezuela was simultaneously held in dozens of cities throughout the world. Many people who attended the rally in Doral said their families were protesting in Venezuela.
The event was proposed for Council approval by City Manager Joe Carollo at the request of Venezuelan students and patriotic Venezuelan organizations.
City Council members approved it.