A 22-year-old preschool teacher in Michigan was arrested moments after giving a television interview in which she praised Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and criticised US policy. Jessica Plichta had just finished speaking with ABC 13 in Grand Rapids, where she organised a protest earlier that day.
During the interview, Plichta claimed that Maduro was democratically elected and that the Venezuelan people 'loved' him. She also stated, 'We have to apply pressure at all points that we can. This is not just a foreign issue; it’s our tax dollars that are also being used to commit these war crimes.' The legitimacy of Maduro’s multiple terms has been questioned by the US, Canada, and 17 Latin American governments, with critics describing him as an authoritarian socialist who has retained power through dubious elections.
Shortly after the interview concluded, police arrested Plichta for 'obstructing a roadway' and 'failure to obey a lawful command'. As she was handcuffed, she said, 'I am not resisting arrest. I am going peacefully.' She was released hours later and was filmed raising her fist and shouting 'Viva Maduro.' Speaking to Zeteo, she said, 'I don’t think it’s a coincidence that as soon as I finished an interview speaking on Venezuela, I was arrested – the only person arrested out of 200 people.'
Separately, Maduro appeared in a New York courtroom yesterday, pleading not guilty to 'narco-terrorism' conspiracy charges. Wearing a blue jail uniform, he declared, 'I am innocent. I am a decent man. I am President…' He and other Venezuelan officials were indicted in 2020. Russia and China condemned what they described as US aggression against Venezuela, with China expressing 'shock' and strong condemnation of the 'brazen use of force'.
