In a fervent demonstration against escalating U.S. military actions in the Caribbean, hundreds gathered in Times Square on Saturday afternoon. The protest targeted recent incidents involving U.S. forces striking suspected drug-trafficking vessels off the Venezuelan coast, a move that has heightened tensions between the two nations.

Amidst the bustling heart of Midtown, demonstrators waved the Venezuelan flag and brandished signs demanding, “U.S. out of the Caribbean.” Their voices rang out with chants such as “No war on Venezuela!” and “Fight back!” while also expressing discontent toward President Donald Trump and the U.S. with slogans like “Biggest threat in the world today? Donald Trump and the USA!”

Organized by the ANSWER Coalition, this protest was part of the broader “No War On Venezuela, national day of action” initiative. The coalition highlighted widespread opposition to military intervention, referencing a CBS News poll that revealed 70% of Americans are against such actions in Venezuela.

The group criticized the Trump administration’s rationale for military operations, dismissing claims of combating drug trafficking as unfounded. They accused the administration of bypassing constitutional processes, including a Congressional war declaration, and condemned Pete Hegseth’s controversial directives, which allegedly include targeting survivors of vessel strikes. “The whole world sees all of this as transparently illegal and is calling for peace,” the coalition stated.

Manolo De Los Santos, executive director of the People’s Forum, echoed these sentiments on X, drawing parallels to past U.S. military interventions. “No country the US has invaded has ever been left better. It has only left destruction in its wake. And now, 22 years after the US went to war in Iraq based on lies, we’re seeing the same script unfold again, this time, against Venezuela,” he remarked.

The protest concluded without any arrests, according to police reports.

President Trump and the Pentagon have defended the boat strikes, saying they’re battling narcoterrorism by taking out drug smugglers who are helping fuel the overdose scourge in the U.S. Strikes on at least 23 vessels have killed around 90 people since early September.

Federal officials say a boat blasted out of the water on Sept. 2 was operated by the Tren de Aragua gang and smuggling drugs to the U.S., and thus presented a threat to Americans. But, according to CNN, the boat’s crew planned to transfer contraband to a larger ship headed southeast along the Atlantic coast to the South American country of Suriname.

The boat strikes came under new scrutiny last week, with critics saying the Sept. 2 attack — during which two survivors of the initial strike were then killed in an alleged “double-tap,” or second strike — may violate the law of armed conflict, which forbids targeting an enemy combatant who’s out of the fight due to injury or surrender.

Under socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela — despite having more oil reserves than any country in the world — suffers from extreme corruption and grinding poverty. The Trump administration has described Maduro as an “illegitimate” leader.