Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has announced a global protest scheduled for Sunday, May 3rd, under the banner #QueSeanTodos. This movement will see simultaneous gatherings in over 120 cities worldwide at noon, Venezuelan time.
"On Sunday, May 3rd, we will raise our voices so the world can hear our cry for freedom, justice, and democracy that we are voicing from Venezuela," Machado stated in a video released by the organization Mundo Con Venezuela.
The urgency of this mobilization, Machado emphasized, stems from the fact that more than 500 political prisoners remain detained in Venezuela. "There are still over 500 political prisoners, both civilians and military, behind bars at this very moment. They and their families need our voice, need our strength," she asserted.
Background of the Protest
The immediate context for the call to action is the abrupt termination of the Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence. This decision was announced by Delcy Rodríguez on April 25th, just two months after its enactment, leaving hundreds of detainees still imprisoned.
As of April 27, 2026, the organization Foro Penal reported 454 political prisoners, including 186 military personnel, despite approximately 800 real releases since January. Meanwhile, the group Justicia, Encuentro y Perdón estimates the number to be 676, including 187 officers and 34 foreigners.
Discrepancies and Criticism
Discrepancies between official and verified figures have persisted throughout the process. The Venezuelan government claimed over 8,000 amnesties by counting non-custodial precautionary measures, which Foro Penal does not include in its tally.
Military personnel accused of rebellion, who remain incarcerated, were excluded from the amnesty from the start, intensifying criticism from families and human rights organizations. Families of prisoners have maintained 100-day vigils outside prisons like El Rodeo I and El Helicoide, criticizing the slow pace of releases and the lack of an official list of beneficiaries.
A Continuing Movement
This Sunday's protest is part of a series of demonstrations that began in February, when thousands marched in Caracas on February 4th, and students took to the streets again on February 12th to demand the release of all political prisoners.
The locations for Sunday's gatherings are being shared through the social media accounts of Comando con Venezuela and Mundo Venezuela, where former political prisoners and their families will also participate to share their stories.
"Raise your voice. Now more than ever, we are determined to achieve freedom, justice, memory, respect, democracy, and, of course, the reunion of our families in our country. We'll see you this Sunday, May 3rd," Machado concluded in her call to the Venezuelan diaspora.
Key Questions About the Venezuelan Political Prisoners' Protest
What is the purpose of the global protest organized by María Corina Machado?
The protest aims to demand the release of over 500 political prisoners still detained in Venezuela, advocating for freedom, justice, and democracy.
How many cities are participating in the protest?
Over 120 cities worldwide are participating in the protest simultaneously at noon, Venezuelan time.
What prompted the urgency of this mobilization?
The urgency is prompted by more than 500 political prisoners remaining in detention, despite the recent termination of the Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence.