“Kidnap”of Maduro Sparks Protests Across Belfast

By J Smyth

In the wake of the US’ rendition of Maduro [1] , Venezuela’s president, protesters lined the international wall on the Falls Road on the 5th of January. The crowd was replete with placards bearing slogans such as ‘No to US Imperialism’ and ‘America is a Terrorist State.’ A reasonably sized Venezuelan fleg was also present. The hastily organised demonstration included a cross-section of Belfast’s left, with members of People Before Profit, the Socialist Party NI, Connolly Youth Movement, BDS Belfast, and QUB Palestine Assembly in attendance.

After some chants, the crowd received some words from PBP MLA Gerry Carroll. Carroll condemned the “kidnap” of Maduro as a blatant act of imperialism and a flagrant violation of international law. He was also critical of how the media had covered the weekend’s events, saying if Russia “abducted Zelensky”, the BBC and Sky would “rightfully call it what it is, a Kidnap.” Carroll wrapped up by leading chants of “Hands off Venezuela!”

In conversation with the crowd, I found there was a mixture of those who were critical of Maduro, but they all expressed outrage at the abduction of a head of state by the US military. The consensus seemed to be that, even if you have misgivings about the leader of a country, it’s up to the people of that country to decide who rules them. It seems all present believed that, if the US’ track record was anything to go by, the plight of the Venezuelan people would only be worsened under an American puppet regime. Most present seemed to concur with Trump – that it was just about getting the oil [2].

Later that week, on the 8th of January, BDS Belfast organised a noise-making protest outside the offices at the rear of the US consulate. Demonstrators banged pots, pans, drums, and even blasted air raid sirens through megaphones. Some of those present also took to the megaphones to encourage those working inside to resign in protest of “Trump’s Fascism” and “Trump’s imperialism.” As Renee Good was killed by an ICE agent the day prior [3], one woman equipped with a megaphone claimed that those inside were working for a government that “killed a mother of three last night.” There were also chants of “USA, USA – how many kids did you kill today?” Those present were keen to link the US’ actions in Venezuela with its support for Israel’s genocide in Gaza [4], claiming that these were the actions of an empire with a blithe disregard for international law. In addition to chants about Cuba and Venezuela, there were also, of course, a few chants of “Hands off Greenland!”

Unlike the protest earlier that week at the International Wall, there was a noticeable police presence, discouraging protesters from going right up to the fence, instead staying just in front of a grassy mound before the fence. One BDS activist recalled that on a similar protest at the same spot, they went right up to the fence – which prompted the consulate staff to rush out and move their cars. A march to the US consulate has also been called under the auspices of the QUB Palestine Assembly for Saturday, the 24th of January. The group plans to gather outside the Lanyon gates at 1 p.m. and has sought approval from the parades commission.

References:

[1] Stefano Pozzebon, Simone McCarthy, and Adam Cancryn. “The US Has Captured Venezuelan Leader Maduro. Here’s What to Know.” CNN, January 3, 2026. https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/03/americas/venezuela-explosions-intl-hnk

[2] Goldman, David. “Trump Says US Is Taking Control of Venezuela’s Oil Reserves. Here’s What It Means.” CNN, January 3, 2026. https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/03/business/oil-gas-venezuela-maduro

[3] Kerem Inal, Chris Looft, Jared Kofsky, and Josh Margolin. “Minneapolis ICE Shooting: A Minute-By-Minute Timeline of How Renee Nicole Good Died.” ABC News, January 9, 2026. https://abcnews.go.com/US/minneapolis-ice-shooting-minute-minute-timeline-renee-nicole/story?id=129021809

[4] Amnesty International UK. “Israel’s Genocide against Palestinians ‘Not Over’ despite Ceasefire – New Amnesty Briefing.” @AmnestyUK, 2025. https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/israels-genocide-against-palestinians-not-over-despite-ceasefire-new-amnesty