The U.S. attack on Venezuela has prompted reactions from Venezuelans all over the world, including Venezuelan-Americans living in the Philly region.
According to the most recent U.S. Census data, around 5,7000 people with Venezuelan ancestry are living in the City of Philadelphia, and more than 13,000 live in the greater Philly area.
Venezuelan-Americans who spoke to NBC10’s Siobhan McGirl on Saturday said they feel freedom is possible for Venezuela for the first time in a long time.
“Today is the day that Venezuelan freedom and democracy has a light at the end of the tunnel,” said Fernando Torres, a Venezuelan advocate who was born in the country, but now lives in Philly.
Overnight, Torres’ cousin, who lives in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, shared videos with him of explosions and military activity there.
“He called me, he called me immediately,” Torres recalled. “His house was shaking. He showed me a video. And they were flying low.”
Torres said Saturday has been a day that started with disbelief, but has morphed into a day of cautious celebration.
“Signs of relief and signs of nervousness because what’s next? Who is going to take power? If it’s a vacuum power, who is going to take over?”
At a press conference on Saturday morning, President Donald Trump said the U.S. would “run” the country until a transition takes place.
“We don’t know what that means… we hope more words come out,” Torres said.
President Donald Trump says the U.S. has carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela early on Saturday and “captured” the country’s president Nicolás Maduro and his wife.
Emilio Buitrago, the co-founder of Case de Venezuela Philadelphia, said she and her organization are cautiously watching what is happening.
“We might disagree with methodology used, but just seeing Maduro out of power,” she said. “We are hopeful, but we have to see what is next because the second in command is just part of the regime as Maduro was.”
Casa de Venezuela, along with Casa de Venezuela Delaware, and Gente de Venezuela Philadelphia, are inviting the Venezuelan community to come gather at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on Sunday at noon.
“To come together in unity as a one large community and to pray for the best,” Buitrago said. I truly believe in the power of prayer.”