More than a hundred demonstrators converged outside the United States embassy in Dublin this weekend, staging a significant protest against American military intervention in Venezuela.
Protest and Counter-Protest in Ballsbridge
The rally took place at the junction of Elgin Road and Pembroke Road in the city's Ballsbridge area. It was organised in direct response to the entry of US forces into Venezuela one week prior, an operation aimed at capturing the country's president, Nicolas Maduro.
Participants, waving the flags of Venezuela, Cuba, and Palestine, filled the air with chants condemning US imperialism. Slogans such as "US out of Venezuela" and "hands off Venezuela" were repeatedly heard. The demonstration saw representation from several political groups, including Sinn Fein, People Before Profit (PBP), and the Eirigi grouping.
Notable figures in attendance included PBP TD Paul Murphy and former MEP Clare Daly.
Voices from the Rally
Addressing the crowd, veteran civil rights campaigner Bernadette McAliskey delivered a fiery speech. She characterised the Trump administration as "a fascist regime in the belly of the beast of US imperialism."
The protest, however, was not without opposition. A smaller group of Venezuelan counter-protesters positioned themselves in front of media cameras. They expressed gratitude to former President Trump and the US for moving to remove Maduro from power, whom they labelled a "tyrant."
Clashing Perspectives on Imperialism
This direct confrontation of viewpoints highlighted the deep divisions over the crisis. In a sharp retort aimed at the counter-protesters, McAliskey stated she expected them to "live long enough that they will curse the tongue in your head that ever blessed imperialism." She argued that imperialism was the root cause of poverty in Venezuela.
The event on Saturday 10 January 2026 underscores how global political conflicts can resonate on Irish streets, drawing local political actors into international debates over sovereignty and foreign intervention.
