Since April 1, daily anti-government protests across Venezuela have frequently devolved into clashes with riot police, leaving thousands arrested, hundreds injured, and 43 dead. Opposition activists are protesting against the government of President Nicolas Maduro, blaming him for a crippling economic crisis that has caused widespread food shortages for years. Venezuelan opposition leaders are demanding immediate presidential elections, accusing Maduro of political repression and trying to cling to power.
Venezuela's Crisis Deepens, Protests Escalate
Hints:
View this page full screen.
Skip to the next and previous photo by typing j/k or ←/→.
-
![]()
Read moreOpposition supporters confront riot security forces while rallying against President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, on May 12, 2017. #
Carlos Garcia Rawlins / Reuters -
-
![]()
Read moreOpposition supporters clash with riot security forces while rallying against President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas on May 10, 2017. #
Marco Bello / Reuters -
![]()
Read moreAn opposition demonstrator is hit by the jet from a riot police water cannon during a protest against President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, on May 10, 2017. #
Juan Barreto / AFP / Getty -
![]()
Read moreNational Police stand ready to launch tear gas at student protesters outside the Central University of Venezuela in Caracas, on May 4, 2017. #
Fernando Llano / AP -
![]()
Read moreOpposition activists and riot police clash during a protest against President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas on May 8, 2017. #
Federico Parra / AFP / Getty -
![]()
Read moreDemonstrators stand next to a bus burns near a protest against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, on May 13, 2017. #
Christian Veron / Reuters -
-
![]()
Read moreDemonstrators confront a riot police armored vehicle, during clashes in a protest against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas on May 3, 2017. #
Juan Barreto / AFP / Getty -
![]()
Read moreOpposition activists are run over by a charging National Guard riot control vehicle during a protest against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas on May 3, 2017. #
Carlos Becerra / AFP / Getty -
![]()
Read moreVolunteers, members of a primary care response team, kneel behind a tree during clashes with security forces at a rally against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, on May 1, 2017. #
Carlos Garcia Rawlins / Reuters -
![]()
Read moreAn injured opposition supporter is helped by others during a rally in Caracas on May 10, 2017. #
Christian Veron / Reuters -
![]()
Read moreA woman rests on a tire at a roadblock set up by residents outside her home in El Hatillo's municipality near Caracas, on May 2, 2017. Residents blocked streets with trash bags, broken concrete and twisted metal Tuesday to protest the president's bid to rewrite the constitution amid a deepening political crisis. #
Fernando Llano / AP -
-
![]()
Read moreView of damage in a supermarket in Valencia, Carabobo State, on May 5, 2017, the day after anti-government protesters looted stores, set fire to cars and clashed with police, leaving at least five people injured, and one dead after being hit in the head by a projectile . #
Ronaldo Schemidt / AFP / Getty -
![]()
Read moreVenezuelan National guards take cover with their shields during a protest of opposition supporters in Caracas on May 2, 2017. #
Carlos Garcia Rawlins / Reuters -
![]()
Read morePeople place crosses, representing people who have died during the most recent opposition protest movement, on the side of the highway during a national sit-in against President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas on May 15, 2017. #
Fernando Llano / AP -
![]()
Read moreAn opposition activists wears a "gas mask" made out of a water bottle during a protest in Caracas on May 12, 2017. #
Federico Parra / AFP / Getty -
![]()
Read moreA police officer looks on as opposition supporters confront riot security forces in Caracas on May 12, 2017. #
Carlos Garcia Rawlins / Reuters -
-
![]()
Read moreA group of riot policemen are hit by a Molotov cocktail hurled by an opposition demonstrator during a protest against President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas on May 8, 2017. #
Carlos Becerra / AFP / Getty -
![]()
Read moreA Venezuelan opposition activist sits against a wall reading "Freedom!" during a protest against President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas on May 8, 2017. #
Juan Barreto / AFP / Getty -
![]()
Read moreOpposition activists are hit by a riot police water cannon during a protest against President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, on May 10, 2017. #
Juan Barreto / AFP / Getty -
![]()
Read moreAn armored police vehicle is seen on fire during rally against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas on May 3, 2017. #
Marco Bello / Reuters -
![]()
Read moreDemonstrators gather in front of the police as they attend a women's march to protest against President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas on May 6, 2017. #
Christian Veron / Reuters -
-
![]()
Read moreIn this Monday, May 8, 2017 photo, an anti-government protester plays a violin as security forces block a student march from reaching the Education Ministry in Caracas. #
Ariana Cubillos / AP -
![]()
Read moreAn opposition supporter looks on during clashes with security forces at a protest against President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, on May 4, 2017. #
Carlos Garcia Rawlins / Reuters -
![]()
Read moreOpposition supporters hit a man they accuse of being a thief during a rally against President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas on May 8, 2017. #
Christian Veron / Reuters -
![]()
Read moreWorkers clean the floor next to empty shelves and refrigerators in a supermarket after it was looted in San Cristobal, Venezuela, on May 17, 2017. #
Carlos Eduardo Ramirez / Reuters -
![]()
Read moreA woman with her face painted in the colors of Venezuela's national flag takes part in the blockade of a highway in Caracas on April 24, 2017. #
Fernando Llano / AP -
-
![]()
Read moreOpposition supporters hold candles while participating in a candlelight rally against President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas on May 17, 2017. #
Marco Bello / Reuters -
![]()
Read moreOpposition supporters clash with riot security forces in Caracas on May 10, 2017. #
Carlos Garcia Rawlins / Reuters -
![]()
Read moreVenezuelan opposition activists run from clashes with the security forces in Caracas on May 13, 2017. #
Juan Barreto / AFP / Getty -
![]()
Read moreOpposition activists, seen here behind a Venezuelan flag, protest against the deaths of 43 people in clashes with the police during weeks of demonstrations against the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas on May 17, 2017. #
Juan Barreto / AFP / Getty
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.