Despite the rain, Caracas residents voice solidarity with RCTV
Neither the 363 days elapsed, nor the unexpected rain which
refreshed the Sunday's morning, prevented a significant number
of Venezuelans from retaking the streets to refuse once again
the end of the free-signal broadcasting of TV channel RCTV.
The rejection against the government decision not to renew
a broadcasting license for the channel is still in force.
The initial low turnout made organizers feel nervous, but
it vanished along with the rain. Hundred people emerged from
the subway station holding some item with allusions to RCTV
and joined the demonstration. Those who had no items could
buy it from the usual street vendors. There was a generous
supply, including caps, vests, pins, tapes, banners, whistles,
glasses and shades.
The march from Bellas Artes to the RCTV studios, downtown
Caracas, took more than one hour. The Press Trade Union, the
Venezuelan Medical Association and groups of journalists attended
the rally. University students, fewer as compared with 2007,
were also present and headed by the president of the Students
Federation of the Central University of Venezuela Ricardo
Sánchez.
Oscar Pérez, the major organizer, was pleased with the
outcome. "This shows the solidarity of the Venezuelan people
with RCTV. Today (Sunday) a new stage of civic and democratic
struggle begins to ask for respect of freedoms."
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