Opposition Leaders Attempt to Climb Police Barrier in Caracas

Carlos Paparoni and Jorge Millán, opposition politicians and members of Venezuela’s National Assembly, were maced as they attempted to climb over a police barrier across Avenida Páez in Caracas, Venezuela, on May 8.Leaders of the opposition party Voluntad Popular have denounced Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as a dictator for his attempts to overhaul the constitution and refusal to hold elections despite the the country’s deepening economic crisis.The latest round of opposition protests against Maduro have been violently suppressed by the National Guard and police, with more than 25 people killed since demonstrations began in late March. Activists and opposition leaders say that Maduro’s deployment of the National Police and National Guard violates their constitutional right to peaceful protest. The violent clashes between protesters and government security forces in Venezuela have drawn criticism from foreign governments that urge Venezuela’s leaders to resolve the intense political and economic strife peacefully and democratically.