Venezuelan Mothers March in Protest of Violence

Women and mothers, led by opposition leaders, marched to the headquarters of the National Guard in Caracas, Venezuela, on May 14 to protest against violence used by the guard and police in ongoing anti-government protests in Venezuela.“We mothers of Venezuela don’t have anything to celebrate,” says National Assembly member Mariela Magallanes. “We’re here, everywhere in the country, asking the National Guard for no more oppression, no more assassinations of our children.”Opposition leaders and mothers marched in Caracas on Mother’s Day using the hashtag #SueltaTuArma, or “put down your weapons,” in an appeal to members of Venezuela’s National Guard and police not to engage in violence against protesters.The death of 26-year-old Miguel Castillo on May 10 was the 38th death reported in the wave of protests that have engulfed the country since April 1.