‘Hands Off Venezuela’ protest held Tuesday on Perkins Road
January 06, 2026 9:48 PM
Source: WBRZ 2
BATON ROUGE – Protestors lined Perkins Road Tuesday afternoon to protest the United States’ recent involvement in Venezuela.
Members of Indivisible Baton Rouge blasted the Trump administration for the capture of Nicolas Maduro, saying there are more important matters the United States should prioritize.
“I mean, what does this have to do with American lives with American prosperity? What does this have to do with the price of groceries or health care, in order to go in and bring or kidnap a president of a sovereign nation and bring him there?”, Attendee Winston Marcelle said.
Indivisible Baton Rouge plans to hold protests every Tuesday near Perkins Road Community Park from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Baton Rouge Protesters, Officials Weigh in on Venezuela Leader’s Capture
January 6, 2026 10:01 PM
Source: WAFB 9 Perry Robinson
BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Mixed opinions continue to surface across the country and here in Baton Rouge following the recent capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, prompting protests and public debate in Louisiana.
Along Perkins Road, a few dozen demonstrators from the grassroots group Indivisible Baton Rouge gathered to voice opposition to the U.S. role in the operation. The group, led by Bonnie Byland, meets weekly to protest national and regional issues they believe deserve public attention.
“We feel that people really need to be aware and pay attention to what’s happening,” Byland said.
Byland said she does not support the decision to capture Maduro, arguing that while the individual has committed serious wrongdoing, the United States should not intervene in that manner.
“No doubt this man is a very bad man and has done very bad things, but that’s true for leaders around the world. It’s really not the United States’ position, in my opinion, to go around snatching up leaders,” Byland said.
The protest drew mixed reactions from spectators, with some expressing support and others disagreeing with the group’s stance.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry recently weighed in on the issue in an opinion piece, calling for the Venezuelan leader to face execution or imprisonment at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. In his writing, Landry blamed Venezuela’s government for contributing to the opioid and fentanyl crisis in the United States.
Despite differing views, some protesters said the focus should remain on the right to free expression.
Pat Friedrich said regardless of where people stand on the issue, the ability to speak out is essential.
“We have a right to protest,” Friedrich said. “We have a right to indicate when we’re not happy with our politicians.”
Organizers said their goal is not to persuade everyone to agree, but to encourage public engagement and discussion on issues they believe matter.