'Mother of All Marches' Leaves 3 Dead

Opposition leader was tear-gassed in Venezuela's capital
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Apr 20, 2017 12:21 AM CDT
3 Killed During 'Mother of All Marches' in Venezuela
A demonstrator hurls a canister of tear gas toward security forces during anti-government protests in Caracas, Venezuela, on Wednesday.   (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

What anti-government activists in Venezuela called the "mother of all marches" turned bloody on Wednesday, with at least three people killed and dozens more injured during rallies and marches across the country. The Guardian reports that at least one opposition lawmaker was hospitalized after taking part in the demonstrations, and photos shared online showed opposition leader Henrique Capriles choking on tear gas during a protest in Caracas. Thousands of people clashed with soldiers and riot police in the capital, with protesters building barricades and throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at security forces.

The AP reports that one of the people shot dead during the protest in Caracas was Carlos Romero, who was three days away from his 18th birthday. Family members say he was on his way to play soccer when he found himself between protesters and pro-government militias. Another victim was a 23-year-old woman shot dead by militia members as she was on her way home from a protest, according to the mayor of the city of San Cristobal. A third victim, a National Guardsman, was reportedly shot dead by a sniper. Protesters, including Catholic clergy members, are seeking to oust President Nicolas Maduro. The opposition has called for another mass protest on Thursday. (More Venezuela stories.)

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