Protests over Venezuela’s recent presidential election results are growing across the country, including here in South Florida. Thousands of people in Miami made their voices heard at Bayfront Park Saturday.
The event started at 4:00 p.m. and went on for more than seven hours. Hundreds of people were in line before the park opened.
Venezuelans in South Florida are demanding freedom and democracy. They're condemning leader Nicolas Maduro after he said he beat opponent Edmundo Gonzalez in last month's election. They're also calling for an independent review of the votes.
South Florida's protest was one of many across the world over the weekend. John Fix and his wife Andrea were two of the thousands of people at Bayfront Park.
“It tells me that the movement is not dead, it tells me people are not quitting,” Fox said.
Dana Arocha was born in Venezuela and moved to South Florida when she was 5-years-old. She says even though she's far away, she won't let distance stop her from doing her part.
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“I feel like by being here, we're showing our face for our country and fighting for the people who are struggling over there,” Arocha said. “Be very educated about what's going on in our country and about the crisis we have going on.”
This was the second protest at Bayfront Park this month. Artists including Willy Chirino, Arturo Sandoval, Amaury Gutiérrez and Danny Ocean were expected to perform Saturday.
There were no reported arrests or medical transports at Bayfront Park.