"Plichta, who recently co-founded local group Grand Rapids Opponents of War, an organizer of Saturday's protest, had visited the Venezuelan capital of Caracas just last month, amid the Trump administration's blockade. She was a part of a delegation to the International People's Assembly for Sovereignty and Peace of Our Americas. Activists from dozens of groups planned to attend. But after Trump ordered that Venezuelan airspace be closed in its entirety on 29 November, many canceled their trips."
"Plichta was arrested on 3 January after a live interview with a local news station about a Grand Rapids, Michigan protest against the Trump administration's seizing of Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela's president, in an attack with a reported death toll of 100. The clip went immediately viral, racking up millions of views across social media. While the headlines focused on Plichta's age (22) and that she's a pre-school teacher, Plichta believes the reason for her arrest seemingly the only one among roughly 200 protesters."
Jessica Plichta, 22, a pre-school teacher and co-founder of Grand Rapids Opponents of War, was arrested on 3 January during a live interview at a Grand Rapids protest against the Trump administration's seizing of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro amid an attack with a reported death toll of 100. The interview clip went viral. Plichta had recently visited Caracas as part of a delegation to the International People's Assembly for Sovereignty and Peace of Our Americas despite U.S. airspace closures, meeting activists and claiming to have spoken with Maduro. She faces misdemeanor charges of obstructing a roadway and failure to obey a lawful police command. Local activists say Grand Rapids police use similar arrests to suppress protests.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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