Venezuelans in Philly area react to U.S. attack: ‘Who is going to take power?'
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.
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.”
