Protests against the actions the United States took in Venezuela overnight were hastily planned Saturday across the nation and Southern California, including in downtown Los Angeles, Rancho Cucamonga and elsewhere.
The U.S. carried out a military strike on Venezuela early Saturday, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and removing them from the country. President Donald Trump said the U.S. is “going to run” Venezuela until a transition of power can occur and the U.S. will tap the country’s vast oil reserves as part of a rebuilding effort.
Protest organizers have characterized the strike as an outrageous escalation in a campaign of murder in international waters.
The activist group The ANSWER Coalition set up a website with nationwide protest locations and times.
“We need to take to the streets and say no to another endless war! The people of this country do not want another war! A U.S. war would cause death and destruction for the people of Venezuela,” the organization stated on its site.
“The war machine consumes an unimaginable amount of our tax dollars while working families struggle to make ends meet. In an all-out war with Venezuela, it will be working-class young people who are sent to kill and die …” it continued.
Local activist groups arranged protests in Los Angeles on Saturday. At noon, Union del Barrio, the Community Self Defense Coalition and other organizations condemned the U.S. attack. Later, CodePink and other organizations put together an “emergency” protest at Pershing Square.
Supporters attend a Union del Barrio and Community Self Defense Coalition news conference denouncing the U.S. attack on Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Ron Gochez, with Union del Barrio, speaks at a news conference denouncing the U.S. attack on Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Protesters denounce the U.S. attack on Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, at Pershing Square in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Protesters denounce the U.S. attack on Venezuela on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, at Pershing Square in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
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Supporters attend a Union del Barrio and Community Self Defense Coalition news conference denouncing the U.S. attack on Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)
In Rancho Cucamonga, a protest is scheduled at Foothill Boulevard and Haven Avenue for 4 p.m.
In Riverside, a demonstration is slated for 3735 Main Street, also at 4 p.m. “Meet at Gandhi memorial. Prepare for rain!!” a flyer stated.
But in some places, the strike has been cause for celebration.
In Miami’s Little Havana, flags flew and cheers rang out after President Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces had captured Maduro.
“To be able to celebrate the operation that the U.S. government carried out today is phenomenal,” Jorge Jaen of the Venezuelan American Republican Club told Local10.com. “This doesn’t stop here because they took out Maduro. It’s like a table has four legs. There are still three more legs that need to go in order for Venezuela to really be free.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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