Venezuelan Protests: Another Attempt by U.S.-Backed Right-Wing Groups to Oust Elected Government? | Democracy Now!

Venezuelan Protests: Another Attempt by U.S.-Backed Right-Wing Groups to Oust Elected Government? | Democracy Now!

In Venezuela, at least six people have died in recent days during a
series of anti-government protests. The latest casualty was a local
beauty queen who died of a gunshot wound. The protests come less than a
year after the death of Hugo Chávez and present the biggest challenge to
Venezuela’s new president, Nicolás Maduro. Earlier this week,
right-wing opposition leader Leopoldo López turned himself in to the
National Guard after authorities issued a warrant for his arrest last
week, accusing him of inciting deadly clashes. On Monday, Maduro ordered
the expulsion of three U.S. consular officials while claiming the
United States has sided with the opposition. Our guest, George
Ciccariello-Maher, looks at the recent history of the U.S. role in
Venezuela opposing both the Chávez and Maduro governments. He is author
of "We Created Chávez: A People’s History of the Venezuelan Revolution"
and teaches political science at Drexel University in Philadelphia.