A protest in Michigan took a dramatic turn when an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump's raid to capture Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro was arrested during a live TV interview.
Hundreds hit the streets of downtown Grand Rapids on Saturday in a heated showdown against America's stunning military intervention in Venezuela, capped off by the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
"No war with Venezuela!" angry protesters bellowed, waving flags and signs before marching through various streets.
Organizer Jessica Plichta, who recently returned from a Venezuelan peace summit, told WZZM, “We have to apply pressure at all points that we can, this is not just a foreign issue. It's our tax dollars that are also being used to commit these war crimes.”
Plichta doubled down on her support for Maduro, declaring: “I saw Maduro in person. People loved him. Maduro was elected by the people. He is for the people and the people want to see his return. Free Maduro.”
Things took a turn for the dramatic when police arrested Plichta on camera immediately after the interview, citing roadway obstruction and failure to obey orders. Experts warned the move mirrors the 1990 Panama invasion that nabbed dictator Manuel Noriega.
Thomas Walker, international relations professor at Grand Valley State University, sounded the alarm to the outlet.
“I'm sure the Russians have a large number of leaders that they want to kidnap and drag off,” he said. “Setting this precedent in the international system can be very, very destabilizing. The United States sets the example oftentimes for the rest of the world. I don't think this is an example we want to be followed.”
