Protests erupt in New York during Nicolás Maduro’s drug trafficking pretrial hearings
Supporters and detractors of Nicolás Maduro gathered outside a Manhattan courthouse as legal proceedings continued following his capture during the US military's "Operation Absolute Resolve" in January 2026. Protesters from Code Pink and other organizations demanded Maduro's release, labeling his capture an illegal abduction. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges. The case has sparked nationwide protests in Venezuela and significant diplomatic tension between the US-installed transitional government and regional allies.
Date: August 22, 2026
Location: New York, United States
Conflict: Venezuela Crisis
Category: protest
Severity: MEDIUM
Source: Associated Press