The march of workers, retirees and students that started on the morning of this Thursday, April 9, from Plaza Venezuela culminated in the center of the capital without reaching its announced destination: the Miraflores Palace. A strong device from the Bolivarian National Police and the Bolivarian National Guard prevented the progress of the protesters a few blocks from the presidential palace.
The workers, led by the National Union Coalition, advanced through the main avenues of the center under slogans of a living wage and responses to the economic crisis. Upon reaching the vicinity of La Candelaria and from there to Plaza El Venezolano, security officials closed the passage with metal fences (better known as the bat), tanks and human cordons.
Although they were able to overcome four police pickets, the protesters tried to break the last fence on Urdaneta Avenue, at the entrance to Panteón Boulevard, but after struggles that left moments of high tension, they were unable to continue on their way to the headquarters of the national Executive.
The union leaders, including José Patines, demanded the right to be received by the authorities to demand compliance with article 91 of the Constitution on salary matters. However, public order forces maintained the containment line and diverted the flow of the protest to alternative routes.
Some groups managed to filter through side streets, but the bulk of the mobilization was stopped a few hundred meters from Miraflores. Some people, including journalists who were carrying out their reporting work, were attacked with blunt objects, pepper spray, and others reported that they were threatened with the confiscation of their recording equipment.
In parallel, an official march called by Diosdado Cabello began to gather in Plaza Venezuela, to march in the remainder of the afternoon towards Miraflores, to, according to its organizers, celebrate the 20 years of the Law of Communal Councils.
At the close of this note, the protesters of the union march broke up and marked their withdrawal. There they expressed their frustration with the blockade and confirmed that they will continue the protests until they obtain concrete answers about salaries and working conditions.
The day ended with the center of Caracas under strict security control and police barriers that marked the physical limit of the protest towards the Executive Branch.
