Interfaith leaders hold a vigil at Trinity Lutheran Church, New York, calling for end of US aggression against Venezuela. Photo: Facebook/Trinity Lutheran Church.
Interfaith leaders, community members, and elected officials in New York held a peace vigil in Brooklyn, New York to demand that the United States pursue a diplomatic solution in Venezuela, and repudiated the growing threat by the Trump administration to carry out a military intervention in the country.
The vigil, which took place on Wednesday, December 3, echoed the urgent calls from the Vatican, the World Council of Churches, and the World Communion of Reformed Churches, which advocate for dialogue between Donald Trump and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The organizers denounced US military attacks in the Caribbean that killed more than 80 people, as well as the ongoing US military deployment in the Caribbean Sea, just off the Venezuelan coast. These operations have been considered by governments and legal experts as extrajudicial executions and violations of international law.
Religious and community leaders emphasized the need for diplomacy to prevent further loss of innocent Venezuelan lives, the potential loss of US lives, and the destruction of vital infrastructure if the Trump administration engages in a war against Venezuela.
The vigil for peace in Venezuela, which included prayers and speeches by religious leaders, was held on December 3, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. EST (8:00 p.m. Venezuela time), at Trinity Lutheran Church, in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, New York. Samuel Moncada, permanent representative of Venezuela at the United Nations, delivered a speech, clarifying that Venezuela has no reason to start an armed conflict. “It is a fabricated war, a fictitious war, a fictitious war that may soon turn into a real war,” he said.
The Venezuelan diplomat explained that not only Venezuelans have been killed in the US attacks in the Caribbean; they have also cost the lives of people from Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Trinidad and Tobago, while these illegal and heinous actions have been celebrated by US media. He called on those present at the event to do everything in their power to stop the war, acknowledging that, although they do not control the government, they are the people, and that any small action on the issue can be significant.
“We are witnessing a march toward war, but as people of faith, we must march for peace,” declared the Reverend Dr. Samuel Cruz of Trinity Lutheran Church, organizer of the event. Bishop Rey Rivera, founder of the Latin Pastoral Action Center in the Bronx, added that “the use of military force before exhausting all diplomatic avenues violates our deepest moral principles and international law.”
The Reverend Dr. Eli Valentín, pastor of Centro Pasión, underscored that “every life lost in this escalating conflict is a tragedy.” Similarly, the Reverend Dr. Derrick Boykin, executive pastor of Walker Memorial Baptist Church in the Bronx, invoked the legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who had criticized US militarism and wars.
Anti-war protest called
With the slogan “No War on Venezuela!” the anti-war organization ANSWER coalition has called for protests on Saturday, December 6, in at least seven US cities. The mobilization seeks to halt the “large-scale regime change operation” in Venezuela being undertaken by the Trump administration.
The organizers emphasize the urgency of acting now, noting that Trump promised ground attacks “very soon” and illegally ordered the closure of Venezuelan airspace, a clear sign of military escalation.
Furthermore, they allege that a declaration of war or congressional authorization for the use of force is being unconstitutionally ignored by the US government, while employing “strange and twisted” pretexts about drug trafficking, without providing any evidence.
The ANSWER Coalition underscored that, despite Washington’s rhetoric, 70% of the US population opposes military intervention in Venezuela, and that the entire world considers these actions illegal.
US lawmakers introduce resolution against military action in Venezuela
On Tuesday, December 2, a bipartisan group of US lawmakers introduced a resolution to force a vote in Congress, aimed at blocking any military action by the Trump administration in Venezuela.
Lawmakers, including Democrats Tim Kaine, Chuck Schumer, and Adam Schiff, along with Republican Rand Paul, called a possible military intervention in Venezuela “a colossal and costly mistake that would unnecessarily endanger the lives of our service members.” This stance highlights widespread concern about the implications of a conflict in the region and underscores growing alarm within Trump’s own party.
Additionally, Representatives Jim McGovern, Joaquín Castro (both Democrats), and Thomas Massie (Republican) introduced their own resolution in the House. This measure is aimed at preventing hostilities without prior congressional authorization, reaffirming the legislature’s constitutional role in decisions of war.
The congress members warned that, should an attack occur, they would invoke the War Powers Resolution to initiate a debate and vote to prevent the use of US armed forces in Venezuela. This initiative arises in a context of intense US military activity and growing threats against President Nicolás Maduro’s government.
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/SC/DZ
