US attack on Venezuela provokes anger and joy in metro Atlanta
ByEryn Rogers
Atlanta venezuela protest Protesters speak out against the U.S. invasion of Venezuela Jan. 3. (Source: WSBTV)
ByEryn Rogers
ATLANTA — The U.S. attack on Venezuela is generating mixed emotions.
People protested Saturday, saying the U.S. overstepped, but Channel 2’s Eryn Rogers also spoke to a Venezuelan who was happy about the military operation.
Dozens of people gathered in downtown Atlanta to protest the early morning airstrikes in Venezuela.
“It is outrageous that the United States think they can be the police of the world and take over from a sovereign government,” said event organizer Addison Clapp.
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Trump US Venezuela In this photo released by the White House, President Donald Trump monitors U.S. military operations in Venezuela, with CIA Director John Ratcliffe, left, at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (Molly Riley/The White House via AP) (Molly Riley/AP)
US Venezuela Federal law enforcement personnel patrol outside the Metropolitan Detention Center as they await the arrival of captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) (Yuki Iwamura/AP)
Atlanta Venezuela protest Protesters in Atlanta take issue with the U.S. invasion of Venezuela Jan. 3. (Source: WSBTV)
Atlanta venezuela protest Protesters speak out against the U.S. invasion of Venezuela Jan. 3. (Source: WSBTV)
Gwinnett Venezuela protest A protest was held in Gwinnett County Jan. 3 in response to the U.S. takeover of Venezuela.
Gwinnett Venezuela protest A protest was held in Gwinnett County Jan. 3 in response to the U.S. takeover of Venezuela. (Source: WSBTV)
US Venezuela People celebrate after President Donald Trump announced Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had been captured and flown out of the country, in Doral, Fla., Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Jen Golbeck) (Jen Golbeck/AP)
Colombia Venezuela US Venezuelans embrace during a rally to celebrate after President Donald Trump announced that President Nicolás Maduro had been captured by U.S. forces, in Cúcuta, on the Colombian border with Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga) (Santiago Saldarriaga/AP)
US Venezuela Demonstrators celebrate the arrival of captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at the Metropolitan Detention Center, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) (Yuki Iwamura/AP)
US Venezuela Protesters rally outside the White House Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Washington, after the U.S. captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in a military operation. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) (Jose Luis Magana/AP)
Mexico Venezuela US People celebrate the U.S. capture of President Nicolas Maduro outside Venezuela's Embassy in Mexico City, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) (Marco Ugarte/AP)
Trump Says Maduro 'Captured' After Large-Scale Attack On Venezuela LA GUAIRA, VENEZUELA - JANUARY 03: People drive by a highway past a damaged area of Port of La Guaira after explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard on January 03, 2026 in La Guaira, Venezuela. According to some reports, explosions were heard in Caracas and other cities near airports and military bases around 2 am. US President Donald Trump later announce that his country's military had launched a "large-scale" attack on Venezuela and captured its President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. (Photo by Jesus Vargas/Getty Images) (Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)
Trump Says Maduro 'Captured' After Large-Scale Attack On Venezuela CARACAS, VENEZUELA - JANUARY 03: Supporters of Nicolas Maduro hold a poster with his image near Miraflores Palace after explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard and Maduro's capture was confirmed on January 03, 2026 in Caracas, Venezuela. According to some reports, explosions were heard in Caracas and other cities near airports and military bases around 2 am. US President Donald Trump later announced that his country's military had launched a "large-scale" attack on Venezuela and captured its President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. (Photo by Jesus Vargas/Getty Images) (Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)
US Venezuela Protestors rally outside the White House, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Washington, after the U.S. captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in a military operation. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)
Mexico Venezuela US Farmers from Atenco with machetes gather outside Venezuela's Embassy to protest against the U.S. capture of President Nicolas Maduro, in Mexico City, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) (Marco Ugarte/AP)
Maduro President Donald Trump posted a photo purportedly of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro after his capture by U.S. forces. (Source: Truth Social/@realdonaldtrump/CNN Newsource)
Trump Says Maduro 'Captured' After Large-Scale Attack On Venezuela LA GUAIRA, VENEZUELA - JANUARY 03: Smoke rises from Port of La Guaira after explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard on January 03, 2026 in La Guaira, Venezuela. According to some reports, explosions were heard in Caracas and other cities near airports and military bases around 2 am. US President Donald Trump later announce that his country's military had launched a "large-scale" attack on Venezuela and captured its President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. (Photo by Jesus Vargas/Getty Images) (Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump announced the attack and capture of Venezuela’s president.
He said the U.S. will be taking over the country and its oil reserves for now.
“This isn’t about Maduro. This isn’t about drug trafficking. This is about the United States wanting to control the oil of Venezuela that belongs to the Venezuelans,” Clapp said.
Rogers also spoke to Marcial Marquez, the president of the Atlanta chapter of Casa Venezuela.
He said the Venezuelans he knows are happy.
“We are so excited and grateful because we feel that finally, we can recover our country again thanks to Mr. Donald Trump,” Marquez said.
He says millions of Venezuelans have had to escape the country over the past decade, including himself.
“I’m a political asylum. I had to run away of my country,” Marquez said.
The United Nations put out a report last month, accusing the country of crimes including torture and deadly violence.
“We have family over there that’s suffering because there is no food, no water, no security,” Marquez said.
Others think the U.S. went about the attack the wrong way.
“Maduro is a bad guy. Nobody here is saying otherwise, but the idea that we would break ourselves down and corrupt our own concept of justice to break international laws is really disheartening,” Eric Allen said.
But Marquez says Saturday’s operation gives hope to Venezuelans.
“Soon, very soon, we will have the choice to go back home if you want to go back home, and we get our lives back,” he said.
Marquez told Rogers he wouldn’t feel safe going back home just yet and says it will be a process getting new leadership in place.
