Students at the Central University of Venezuela (UCV) thwarted an event where Nicolás Maduro Guerra, son of the Venezuelan dictator currently detained in the United States, was set to discuss the "life and work" of his father, as reported by El Nacional.
The event, organized by the Pío Tamayo Chair and planned for the campus's Central Library, was unofficially canceled following protests that blocked access to the venue. The announcement sparked spontaneous gatherings and assemblies throughout the university corridors.
Protesters displayed signs with messages like "UCV is a torture-free zone," "What are your father's achievements? Suffocating the university?" and "UCV remembers," while chanting, "We see it, we won't forget it!"
Videos shared on the VivaLaUCV account on X show students gathering in the campus hallways, effectively preventing Maduro Guerra's entourage from entering the premises.
Student leader Octavio González delivered a powerful message: "There's no room in UCV for those who have destroyed our university. Let them take their stories and memories elsewhere; they are not welcome here."
One of the narrators in the released videos captured the sentiment of the demonstrators: "The university was clear and direct. We don't want them setting foot in the Central University of Venezuela, and they won't be welcomed here or in any other educational institution because we, the UCV community, remember."
Student activist Rosa Cucunuba highlighted that the rejection represented 27 years of suffering and deprivation under the Chávez regime. Protesters blamed the government for the dire economic conditions of public universities, noting that the presence of the pro-government official was incompatible with this reality.
The UCV is grappling with a chronic budget crisis: the UCV Professors Association (APUCV) reported that nearly 75% of the teaching staff were excluded from the second installment of the professional responsibility bonus, and the University Council rescheduled student and faculty elections for July 10, 2026.
Maduro Guerra, also known as "Nicolasito," serves as a National Assembly deputy for the state of La Guaira and chairs the parliament's Interior Policy Commission.
Following his father's capture by U.S. special forces on January 3 during "Operation Absolute Resolution" and subsequent transfer to a federal prison in Manhattan, Nicolasito has assumed the role of the main spokesperson for the Chávez regime.
The dictator's son himself faces charges of drug trafficking and conspiracy in the Southern District of New York, accused of coordinating drug shipments with FARC dissidents using planes from the state oil company PDVSA. In February, Washington formally requested his extradition.
The students' protest against the planned forum was not an isolated incident. On Tuesday, UCV students dismantled a perimeter mural of Hugo Chávez, calling it "liberating space for students."
Key Questions About the UCV Protest Against Maduro's Son
What was the purpose of the event that Maduro's son planned to attend at UCV?
The event was intended to discuss the "life and work" of Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan dictator, as organized by the Pío Tamayo Chair.
Why did UCV students protest against the event?
Students protested to oppose the presence of Nicolás Maduro Guerra due to the negative impact his father's regime has had on the university and the country, as well as the ongoing economic struggles faced by public universities.
What actions did the students take during the protest?
Students blocked access to the venue, displayed protest signs, and dismantled a mural of Hugo Chávez, asserting their opposition to the current regime's policies and presence.