‘Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!’ Thousands of Venezuelans gather in Miami to protest election

Venezuelans held a rally in Miami on Saturday to reject what they called “fraud” in the presidential elections in their country.

Sunday’s election caused widespread controversy after Venezuela’s longtime strongman Nicolás Maduro claimed victory despite evidence that opposition candidate Edmundo González had actually won.

Miami Commissioner Joe Carrollo announced the rally on social media and offered free parking for attendants.

María Teresa Morín, coordinator of Comando Con Vzla in the United States, had called on all Venezuelans in South Florida to participate in the demonstration, which took place at the Bayfront Park amphitheater in Downtown Miami.

“María Corina Machado made a call to all Venezuelans to attend in a peaceful way, to gather with family and friends, and to ask that the results of the presidential elections be respected,” said Morin at a press conference in Miami on Friday.

Thousands of people from babies to grandparents gathered at the rally adorned in their national colors of red, blue and yellow, waving Venezuelan flags and chanting “Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!”

Read more: Leader of Venezuelan opposition comes out of hiding to lead massive rally against Maduro

Here’s what the peaceful protest looked like:

This story was originally published August 3, 2024 at 4:19 PM.