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For Immediate Release
May, 16 2019, 12:00am EDT
Contact:
Gloria Mattera, Co-chair of the Green Party of the United States gmattera@gmail.com
Holly Hart, Co-chair, Media Committee media@gp.org 202-804-2758
Green Party of the United States Statement--Venezuelan Embassy
WASHINGTON
The Green Party strongly protests the arrests today of individuals inside the Venezuelan Embassy. Members of the organization Embassy Protection Collective had been staying inside the embassy since April 10, 2019, with permission of the embassy. Their objective was to help prevent a U.S. administration-aided effort by the Venezuelan opposition to take over the embassy. Several members of the Green Party were part of the organization.
The United Nations recognizes Nicolas Maduro as the legitimate president of Venezuela. It is illegal under international law for the U.S. to facilitate control of the embassy to opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has asserted a claim to the office.
The Embassy Protection Collective released a statement recently saying that eviction and arrests of the individuals, inside the embassy with the approval of the Venezuelan government, would violate international law.
"Today's action creates a horrific precedent. International law protects foreign embassies" said Margaret Flowers, Green Party of the United States Co-chair, and one of the activists arrested today as part of the nonviolent effort to prevent the takeover. "The Trump Administration is violating the Vienna Conventionby not only allowing the illegal seizure of diplomatic premises but by facilitating it. Such action raises concerns for the safety and security of diplomatic staff and embassies, including our own, throughout the world."
The Green Party platform states that "the U.S. must recognize the sovereignty of nation-states and their right of self-determination." The Green Party has called for a policy of non-intervention and for sanctions against Venezuela to be lifted.
A recent report shows that as many as 40,000 civilians have died in Venezuela since 2017.
For more information:
Green Party of the United States: Hands Off Venezuela
Statement of the Embassy Protection Collective
US sanctions violate human rights & international code of conduct, UN expert says
Statement of the Embassy Protection Collective
Embassy Protection Collective Facebook Page
U.S. Places Sanctions on Venezuela's Foreign Minister
https://popularresistance.org/tag/Venezuela/
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The Green Party of the United States is a grassroots national party. We're the party for "We The People," the health of our planet, and future generations instead of the One Percent.
(202) 319-7191LATEST NEWS
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"When unlawful force is repeated over time, it risks becoming normalized."
Mar 31, 2026
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The US military announced last Wednesday that it had conducted its 47th attack on boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. The Trump administration has presented little evidence for its claim that the targeted boats have been engaged in trafficking drugs to the United States. At least 163 people have been killed in these attacks since September 2025, all of them without trial.
Human Rights Watch is part of a chorus of international organizations and observers that have condemned the boat bombing campaign as acts of murder in flagrant violation of international law.
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The organization noted that there is no ongoing military conflict in the Caribbean or eastern Pacific that would make those traveling by boat legitimate targets.
And while the US government has provided scant evidence that those it has killed were trafficking drugs, Human Rights Watch said that even if evidence of drug trafficking existed, suspected criminals are still not lawful targets of lethal force unless they pose an imminent threat to the lives of others.
The boat strikes have continued in the background as President Donald Trump has launched attacks against Venezuela and Iran, both of which international organizations have described as acts of aggression that violate the laws of war.
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The crisis in the Middle East is affecting energy prices also here in Europe.
My message on what we must do to protect our citizens and businesses.
Now and in the future.
↓ pic.twitter.com/jiLmavxV8K
— Dan Jørgensen (@DanJoergensen) March 30, 2026
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