Artists and religious figures march for freedom of expression rights in Venezuela

Record ID: 876002

  • Title: Artists and religious figures march for freedom of expression rights in Venezuela
  • Date: 27th May 2017
  • Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (MAY 27, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GATHERED IN FRONT OF STAGE DURING SATURDAY MARCH CLOSE OF SINGER WITH VENEZUELAN FLAG WRAPPED AROUND HER NECK RALLY ATTENDEE SINGING VARIOUS OF WOMAN WITH FACE PAINT, HOLDING VENEZUELAN FLAG OVER HEAD (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PROTEST PARTICIPANT, MARCO CARDOSO, SAYING: "Today the first attack of censorship in Venezuela is being commemorated. That was the closing of Radio Caracas Television (RCTV), a closing of what we students defend, what the generation of 2007 defended, and today what we students in 2017 after ten years will continue defending, which is the right to freedom of expression in Venezuela." GENERAL OF CROWDS IN FRONT OF PERFORMANCE STAGE AT RALLY CROWD CHANTING, "RESISTANCE" DEMONSTRATOR HOLDING DOLL WITH SIGN THAT READS, "RCTV, WE WILL SEE YOU SOON" VARIOUS OF WOMAN IN HANDCUFFS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN PROTESTER, LILIANA ESTHE, SAYING: "I am a prisoner in my country, a prisoner who can't speak, a prisoner who can't march, a prisoner can't do anything. In that sense, I am a prisoner." TRUCKS BLOCKING PASSAGE ON HIGHWAY PEOPLE ATOP TRUCKS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SITTING ON TRUCK, ALONGSIDE VENEZUELAN FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FORMER PRESENTER ON RADIO CARACAS TELEVISION (RCTV), ANA ESCOBAR, SAYING: "The people who are here want RCTV to come back, because they know it was a channel that informed in a truthful and timely manner, and with credibility. That's why are fighting here in Venezuela." PROTESTERS ALONG HIGHWAY WITH POSTERS OF PEOPLE TARGETED BY GOVERNMENT, WHO CALLS THEM THE "TRUE ENEMY" VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS WITH POSTERS ON TOP OF TRUCK ZOOM IN TO TEAR GAS FROM PROTEST ON HIGHWAY
  • Embargoed: 10th June 2017 21:41
  • Keywords: teargas Nicolas Maduro Hugo Chavez Radio Caracas Caracas
  • Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • Country: Venezuela
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016IM5W7B
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: As Venezuela's crisis deepens, and a diverse array of Venezuelans protest the embattled government of Nicolas Maduro, Venezuelans representing the arts, media and religious rallied Saturday (May 27). They came together to also mark the 10th anniversary of the closing of an anti-government television station, Radio Caracas Television (RCTV).
    Maduro calls the ongoing protests a violent effort to overthrow his government, and he insists the country victim of an "economic war" led by adversaries with the help of Washington.
    The demonstrations have killed at least 58 people so far.
    On Saturday, former journalists of RCTV were present for the rally, who like other demonstrators looked back fondly on the station as a credible defender of truth.
    Back in 2007, the government of then Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, who was Maduro's mentor, chose not to renew RCTV's license after 53 years on the air because of accusations that the broadcaster participated in a bungled 2002 coup against Chavez.
    Critics condemned the closure for silencing an influential opposition voice and called the move evidence that Chavez's self-styled socialist revolution is concentrating power and muzzling the opposition.
    In contrast to past waves of unrest in Venezuela, particularly during Hugo Chavez's 1999-2013 rule, the nation's three main private television stations have provided minimal live coverage of the latest anti-government demonstrations.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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