Reactions are mixed by San Diegans responding to the military action in Venezuela, in which that country’s President Nicolás Maduro was captured by the U.S. military and brought to New York to face drug charges.
Alejandra Herrera owns Encuento Cafe, an Old Town restaurant that serves Venezuelan food.
“We are very happy. We’ve been waiting for this for three years,” she told City News Service. “It’s something that we definitely needed.”
Herrera immigrated to the United States from Venezuela 11 years ago.
“It’s going to be very difficult at the beginning,” she said. ” … We are grateful to the United States.”
Criseiea Waldenberg, president of Casa de Venezuela of San Diego, called it “one of the happiest moments of my life. Venezuela is FREE of this dictator!” she posted on Instagram. “Venezuelans tried the pacifist way for years with no results. A third of the population of Venezuela lives in exile, thousands have died, disappeared or are incarcerated. Venezuela used to be one of the top 10 strongest economies in the world.
You know me, I’m all about love, peace and understanding, but long ago Venezuelans understood that with these criminals, violence was the only way out,” Waldenberg’s statement continued. “Venezuelans will FOREVER be thankful to the USA for finally listening to their plea for help.”