Student protests in Venezuela intensified as they entered their fifth straight day on Monday. Thousands of anti-government protestors flooded the streets of Caracas denouncing the nation’s deteriorating economy, inflation, shortages of staple supplies, and security issues. Pro-government protestors are expected to counter-protest today.
Three protestors—two anti-government and one pro-government—were killed and hundreds were injured last Wednesday in the largely student-led protests that took place in cities across Venezuela. Over a dozen anti-government protestors have been arrested since the protests began.
The arrests and violence at the protests have drawn international scrutiny; U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called on protestors on both sides to work together peacefully, while publicly worrying about anti-government protestors’ freedom of expression. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has stated that he will not allow further protests to take place in Caracas.
Three American diplomats were expelled from Venezuela on Sunday after Venezuelan authorities accused them of meeting with the students who led he demonstrations. American officials deny the claim.
