Tensions Rise as Venezuela’s Opposition Marches on the Capital · Global Voices
Laura Vidal

Demonstrators in Caracas in 2007. Photo: Andrés E. Azpúrua / Creative Commons
Venezuela's opposition took to the streets on September 1, generating significant buzz on social media, where independent and citizen reporters like El Pitazo, ReporteYa, and Efecto Cocuyo covered the event, using hashtags like #TomadeCaracas (TakingOfCaracas), #1SeptReclamoDeLibertad (September1DemandForFreedom), while the government's supporters used #ChavismoQuierePaz (ChavismoWantsPeace).
#SepaQue Así empieza la #TomaDeCaracas en los puntos de salida (FOTOS) https://t.co/pGLXQAbkwb pic.twitter.com/gUS2swSv25
— Efecto Cocuyo (@EfectoCocuyo) September 1, 2016
#KnowThat This is how the #TakingofCaracas is starting from the departure points (PHOTOS)
The protest was days in the making, as native community groups from Amazonas, Venezuela's most southern state, gradually filled the capital. Tensions grew as opponents accused the opposition movement of preparations to stage a coup d'état against Nicolás Maduro's government.
Demonstrators say they are protesting against the country's current economic turmoil, and they hope to pressure the state into holding a recall vote on President Maduro. For some time now, Venezuela has endured an economic and political crisis, but conditions have worsened dramatically in the last two years.
A day before the march, Global Voices’ contributor and journalist Luis Carlos Díaz, along with communicator Naky Soto, offered a “Political Hangout” on Facebook, which they shared publicly in order to discuss the context of the march.
During preparations for the protest, news sites like Efecto Cocuyo also reported instances of abuse and blockades apparently erected by the authorities:
#Ahora: Así bajan y requisan a los buses en la Panamericana. pic.twitter.com/3rQFbepgC6
— Efecto Cocuyo (@EfectoCocuyo) September 1, 2016
#Now: This is how [people] are taken down seized from buses in the Panamericana [highway].
#Ahora: En la Panamericana frente al IVIC hay un embudo. Bajan a personas en buses, las requisan pic.twitter.com/ZNUvuEIusO
— Efecto Cocuyo (@EfectoCocuyo) September 1, 2016
#Now: On the Panamericana, in front of the IVIC, there's a traffic stop. They take people off the buses and seize them
Local news media documented other obstacles erected in the streets, as well, saying the National Guard was stopping demonstrators who were heading from the central part of the country to the capital:
Manifestantes que van a la #TomaDeCaracas rompieron el piquete policial en el peaje de Yaracuy y lograron pasar. pic.twitter.com/JIsNRdW6LI
— El Nuevo País y Zeta (@enpaiszeta) September 1, 2016
Demonstrators going to the #TakingofCaracas broke the police line on the Yaracuy Turnpike and were able to go on through.