Opposition leader Juan Guaidó is struggling to draw protesters into Venezuela’s streets just days after calling for daily demonstrations to drive President Nicolás Maduro from power, trying to reignite a movement he started early this year.
Only several dozen people answered Guaidó’s call in Caracas on Monday, some scuffling with security forces. That fell far short of what the opposition had hoped to achieve, after Guaidó at a large demonstration Saturday appealed for sustained protests against the government.
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Opposition leader Juan Guaidó is struggling to draw protesters into Venezuela’s streets just days after calling for daily demonstrations to drive President Nicolás Maduro from power, trying to reignite a movement he started early this year.
"It’s crazy that they ask people to come out, but there’s no plan. Everything is so haphazard,” Briceño said. “I’ve gone out marching many times before — but no more.”
Guaidó initially drew huge crowds when he declared himself interim president. Many thought change was imminent, but Maduro has kept power — primarily with backing with might from the military.
School teacher Yldemar Acevedo was among one small but vocal group of protesters in Caracas on Monday who answered Guaidó’s call and clashed with national police dressed in riot gear.
Diego Moya-Ocampos, principal Venezuela analyst with the London-based consulting firm IHS Markit, said Morales’ ouster in Bolivia may serve as a source of inspiration.
Maduro defends the strong response to protests, saying Guaidó is a puppet of the White House bent on toppling him to exploit the nation’s vast oil reserves.
Office worker Ofelia Briceño said she was done marching until the opposition gets organized and can present a clear approach to lure the military away from Maduro. A passing group of marchers failed to persuade Briceño and her co-workers to abandon lunch plans and join them in the street.
Opposition politician Juan Guaido fist bumps with a supporter during a rally, in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. Guaido called nationwide demonstrations to re-ignite a campaign against President Nicolas Maduro launched in January that has lost steam in recent months. (AP PhotoAriana Cubillos)
"It’s crazy that they ask people to come out, but there’s no plan. Everything is so haphazard,” Briceño said. “I’ve gone out marching many times before — but no more.”
Guaidó rose to lead the opposition in January and later claimed presidential powers under the constitution alleging Maduro’s re-election was illegitimate. He vowed to oust the socialist president and hold new elections.
The opposition leader won the backing of the United States and more than other 50 nations that contend Maduro won a second term in 2018 through fraudulent elections.
A man holding a sign with a message that reads in Spanish: "No more dictatorship," takes part in a demonstration led by opposition politician Juan Guaido, who’s urging masses into the streets to force President Nicolas Maduro from power, in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. Guaido called nationwide demonstrations to re-ignite a campaign against Maduro launched in January that has lost steam in recent months. (AP PhotoMatias Delacroix)
Guaidó initially drew huge crowds when he declared himself interim president. Many thought change was imminent, but Maduro has kept power — primarily with backing with might from the military.
In a speech Saturday, Guaidó called for persistent protests, pointing to Bolivia where 18 days of upheaval prompted the resignation of Maduro ally Evo Morales, who fled to self-exile in Mexico.
The opposition has at least three marches planned this week, including Thursday when university students will try approaching Fuerte Tiuna, the nation’s most important military base and seat of the defense ministry.
Members of Venezuela's National Police rush in to secure Bolivia’s Embassy after learning that opposition politician Juan Guaido and supporters were marching to the embassy to show their support for Bolivia’s interim government, in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. President Nicolas Maduro’s socialist party also called its members to demonstrate in solidarity with Bolivia’s Evo Morales, who resigned the presidency and fled into exile in Mexico on Nov. 10, claiming a coup d’etat following massive protests accusing him of engineering a fraudulent reelection. (AP PhotoAriana Cubillos)
School teacher Yldemar Acevedo was among one small but vocal group of protesters in Caracas on Monday who answered Guaidó’s call and clashed with national police dressed in riot gear.
The police shoved protesters with their shields and struck them with their hands, but Acevedo said she would not quit, no matter the personal cost.
“We’re not backing down from our protests,” she said, adding that the events in Bolivia emboldened her. “The only way they will understand that we have any power is for us to come out into the streets.”
Socialist Party President Diosdado Cabello claps at a pro-government rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. Crowds gathered in the Venezuelan’s capital for rival demonstrations on Saturday. Opposition leader Juan Guaido called for Saturday’s nationwide demonstrations to re-ignite a campaign against President Nicolas Maduro launched in January that has lost steam in recent months. (AP PhotoMatias Delacroix)
Diego Moya-Ocampos, principal Venezuela analyst with the London-based consulting firm IHS Markit, said Morales’ ouster in Bolivia may serve as a source of inspiration.
But Venezuela’s opposition also confronts Maduro’s “military regime,” known to use heavy-handed tactics that include arbitrary arrests and torture.
These are effective tools used by the military and national police to increasing degrees to match protests, deterring shows of resistance, Moya-Ocampo said.
Pro-government supporters cheer during a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. Crowds gather in the Venezuelan’s capital for rival demonstrations on Saturday. Opposition leader Juan Guaido called for Saturday’s nationwide demonstrations to re-ignite a campaign against President Nicolas Maduro launched in January that has lost steam in recent months. (AP PhotoMatias Delacroix)
Maduro defends the strong response to protests, saying Guaidó is a puppet of the White House bent on toppling him to exploit the nation’s vast oil reserves.
“It’s very difficult to maintain momentum when you’re facing such a strong security apparatus,” Moya-Ocampos said. “They’re willing to use force against protesters and willing to treat an unarmed population as an enemy combatant.”
Pro-government supporters march to show their backing for President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. Crowds gathered in the Venezuelan’s capital for rival demonstrations on Saturday. Opposition leader Juan Guaido called for Saturday’s nationwide demonstrations to re-ignite a campaign against President Nicolas Maduro launched in January that has lost steam in recent months. (AP PhotoMatias Delacroix)
MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers remain unsure just when they’ll have their top player back on the floor.
So far, they’ve still managed to do just fine in their respective first-round playoff series.
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo hasn’t played since straining his left calf April 9 and Los Angeles’ Kawhi Leonard has been unavailable all month with inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee. Neither team is saying anything about their potential availability Tuesday when the Bucks attempt to take a 2-0 lead over the Indiana Pacers and the Clippers try to maintain home-court advantage against the Dallas Mavericks.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers said Antetokounmpo “went through a pretty good brisk workout” on Sunday and had been on the court four straight days before taking a maintenance day Monday. The NBA released an injury report Monday night that listed Antetokounmpo as doubtful for Game 2.
Leonard participated in a non-contact practice with the Clippers on Monday.
“He’s got to go through practice today, and we’ll see,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said about Leonard’s status for Game 2.
While the Bucks and Clippers are missing team leaders, the Phoenix Suns have their star trio intact with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal all healthy. But the Suns find themselves in a more precarious position as they try to avoid falling behind 2-0 in their first-round series with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves won 120-95 on their home court in Game 1 by flustering Booker into a 5-for-16 shooting performance.
Booker likened the Game 1 flop to Phoenix’s opening loss in the first round last year at home against the Clippers. The Suns snapped back to take the series in five.
“I’m not saying we’re going to win the next four games, but there was a lot of overreacting after we lost Game 1 to the Clippers,” Booker said after practice on Monday. “It’s just a series.”
Minnesota leads 1-0. Game 2, 7:30 p.m. EDT, TNT
— NEED TO KNOW: The Timberwolves leaned on their NBA-leading defense in Game 1 with relentless efforts by Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels and backup Nickeil Alexander-Walker to help keep Booker and Beal relatively quiet. Their 52-28 rebounding edge was the best postseason margin in franchise history. And they turned 22-year-old superstar Anthony Edwards loose for 33 points.
— KEEP AN EYE ON: Timberwolves reserves. Naz Reid, who’s a finalist for the Sixth Man of the Year award, missed the 2023 postseason with a broken left wrist. He was a beast off the bench along with Alexander-Walker as the backups outscored the Suns bench 41-18.
— INJURY WATCH: The Suns lost sharpshooter Grayson Allen to a sprained right ankle in Game 1, and he’ll be listed as questionable for Game 2 after going 0 for 3 from the floor in 25 minutes in the opener. Minnesota’s Kyle Anderson suffered a hip pointer in a Game 1 collision with Beal’s knee and was limited to five minutes. Anderson practiced Monday.
— PRESSURE IS ON: Suns coach Frank Vogel. When the Suns remade their entire roster over the past year, it wasn’t with the intent of going one-and-done in the playoffs. Vogel — in his first season with Phoenix after coaching the Los Angeles Lakers to the 2020 championship in the pandemic bubble — and his assistants will certainly have some counterpunches ready for defending Edwards and getting Booker going.
Milwaukee leads 1-0. Game 2, 8:30 p.m. EDT, NBA TV
— NEED TO KNOW: Damian Lillard scored all 35 of his points in the first half as the Bucks defeated Indiana 109-94 while holding the Pacers to their lowest point total of the season. The Pacers have lost 10 straight postseason games.
— KEEP AN EYE ON: The tempo. The Pacers won four of five regular-season matchups with Milwaukee because the older Bucks roster couldn’t keep up with the fast pace that Indiana employed while scoring a league-high 123.3 points per game. The Bucks controlled the tempo much better Sunday and didn’t allow the Pacers many transition opportunities.
— INJURY WATCH: All eyes are on Antetokounmpo as the Bucks await the availability of their two-time MVP.
— PRESSURE IS ON: Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton. The two-time All-Star averaged 27 points against the Bucks during the regular season but attempted only seven shots in Game 1 and was limited to nine points. The pressure also is on all of Indiana’s outside shooters after the Pacers went just 8 of 39 from 3-point range Sunday.
Los Angeles leads 1-0. Game 2, 10 p.m. EDT, TNT
— NEED TO KNOW: James Harden had 28 points and Ivica Zubac had 20 points and 15 rebounds in the Clippers’ 109-97 Game 1 triumph. The Mavericks scored just eight second-quarter points and trailed 56-30 at halftime.
— KEEP AN EYE ON: The Clippers’ ability to keep switching things up. Lue is a master strategist who knows Doncic and Irving will pounce if the Clippers keep feeding them a steady diet of the same defensive looks. The Mavs scored 25 points in transition and 25 points at the free-throw line. “We got to do a good job of playing defense without fouling, especially when they get in the bonus,” Lue said.
— INJURY WATCH: Leonard hasn't played since March 31 and hasn't participated in any contact practices.
— PRESSURE IS ON: Dallas’ supporting cast. Luke Doncic scored 33 points and Kyrie Irving had 31 in Game 1, but the other Mavericks combined to score just 33 points while shooting 10 of 36 from the floor.
AP Sports Writers Dave Campbell and Beth Harris contributed to this report.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards celebrates after a dunk during the second half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) goes up for a dunk during the second half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Phoenix Suns head coach Frank Vogel and guard Devin Booker (1) walk toward the bench during the first half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Phoenix Suns head coach Frank Vogel walks toward the bench during the first half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) defends against LA Clippers guard James Harden (1) during the first half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) defends against LA Clippers guard James Harden (1) during the first half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo reacts from the bench in front of Indiana Pacers' Obi Toppin during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA playoff basketball game Sunday, April 21, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo reacts from the bench during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA playoff basketball game Sunday, April 21, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
