In the evening of Wednesday, 1 April 2026, activists assembled in front of the State Library of Victoria to protest U.S. interference in Latin America, amid ongoing U.S. intervention in Cuba and Venezuela.
Demonstrators raised banners and signs bearing slogans such as “Break the blockade of Cuba! Hands off Venezuela! Defeat Imperialism!”, “Manos fuera de Latinoamérica!” (Hands off Latin America!), and “Hasta La Victoria Socialista!” (Until the socialist victory!). Collectively, the messages underscored long-standing frustration towards U.S. intervention in Latin America, which protestors cited as the primary driver of regional instability throughout the decades.
The rally emerged in the wake of Operation Absolute Resolve, which resulted in Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, being taken into U.S. custody, as well as the Trump administration’s tightening of sanctions on oil shipments in Cuba, which has resulted in one of the worst fuel shortages in the country’s history.
The rally opened with an address by Chris, a representative of the Revolutionary Communist Organisation, who condemned U.S. foreign policy, declaring that “[the] blockade follow[ed] decades of U.S. sanctions”.
Chris expressed grave apprehension towards the Cuban government’s decision to open up business ties with Washington, alleging that the move carried “no limitations on conditions”. He denounced this as “the wrong course” and issued a stark warning: “Cuba could be thrown back to pre-revolution days if this continues”.
Speakers at the rally condemned ongoing U.S. intervention in Latin America.
While the protest referenced Latin America broadly, the chants, such as “Long live Cuba!” and “Long live Venezuela!” echoed through the crowd, highlighting the protest’s emphasis on the two nations.
According to Motega, one of the rally organisers, the pressure on Venezuela and Cuba is part of a broader regional trend in Latin America. Motega pointed towards tensions with Colombian president Gustavo Petro and Mexican Claudia Sheinbaum, but emphasised that “Cuba and Venezuela remain the primary targets of the U.S. Imperialism”.
Demonstrators also voiced concerns about sparse media coverage, telling Farrago that they hoped their activism would spark broader public conversation, and put their cause on the map.
Originally scheduled for Saturday, 28 April 2026, the rally was postponed to the following Wednesday evening. According to organisers, the rally drew an estimated 100 attendees, including representatives from the Free Palestine Coalition Naarm, the Socialist Alliance, the Revolutionary Communist Organisation, the Revolutionary Communist International, and other groups.
Beyond regional Latin America, the rally formed a broader protest movement, drawing parallels with U.S. foreign policy in Latin America to the ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Iran and the broader Middle East.
The rally was attended by groups like the Revolutionary Communist International.
Demonstrators further called for Australia to sever its military alliances with the U.S., including the AUKUS agreement, signed by Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Speakers claimed that the billions currently “wasted!” on foreign conflicts and wars should be redirected toward education, healthcare and improved living standards for all Australians, criticising the Albanese government.
Ultimately, protestors rallied as a means of expressing international solidarity, advocating for an immediate end to foreign interventionism, be it globally or in regions such as the Middle East and Latin America, asserting this as the primary driver of instability, and the fundamental obstacle to peace in conflict zones.
Photography by Wan Makhzanah Huriyah