“We are witnessing a march toward war, but as people of faith, we must march for peace,” declared Rev. Dr. Samuel Cruz of Trinity Lutheran Church. Photo: @PeoplesForumNYC
Interfaith and community leaders in New York demand diplomacy and an end to US military escalation against Venezuela during a vigil joining calls from the Vatican and World Council of Churches.
On Wednesday, December 3, interfaith leaders, community organizers, and elected officials in New York, USA, held a peace vigil in Brooklyn to urge the United States to pursue a diplomatic solution in Venezuela. The vigil came amid growing threats from the Trump administration to carry out military attacks on the South American nation.
The event on Wednesday echoed urgent appeals from the Vatican, the World Council of Churches, and the World Communion of Reformed Churches, all of which advocate for dialogue between the White House and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Organizers condemned the recent US military strikes that have killed more than 80 civilians in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the continued deployment of US forces in the Caribbean Sea, just a few kilometers off Venezuela’s coast. These operations have been described by governments and experts as extrajudicial executions and flagrant 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 American lives, and the destruction of vital infrastructure if the Trump administration launches a war that is not authorized by the US Congress.
The vigil for peace in Venezuela—featuring prayers and speeches from religious leaders—was held on December 3, 2025, at 7 p.m. EST (8 p.m. Venezuela time) at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brooklyn, New York. Ambassador Samuel Moncada, Venezuela’s permanent representative to the United Nations, was invited to speak. The Church livestreamed the vigil on its Facebook page.
“We are witnessing a march toward war, but as people of faith, we must march for peace,” said Rev. Dr. Samuel Cruz of Trinity Lutheran Church, one of the vigil organizers. Bishop Rey Rivera, founder of the Latino 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.”
For his part, the Rev. Dr. Eli ValentĂn, pastor of Centro PasiĂłn, stressed that “every life lost in this escalating conflict is a tragedy.” The Rev. Dr. Derrick Boykin, executive pastor of Walker Memorial Baptist Church in the Bronx, invoked the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was a fierce critic of US militarism, especially against the Vietnamese people.
More actions against the war
Under the slogan “No to War Against Venezuela!” the ANSWER Coalition has called for a day of protests on Saturday, December 6, in at least seven US cities. The mobilization seeks to halt what they describe as a “large-scale regime-change operation” in Venezuela being prepared in plain view by the Trump Administration.
Organizers highlighted the urgency of acting now, noting that the occupant of the White House has promised ground attacks “very soon” and has illegally ordered the closure of Venezuelan airspace—an action they view as a clear sign of military escalation. These sit alongside covert CIA operations that Trump claims he initiated.
They also condemned the unconstitutional disregard for an official US declaration of war or congressional authorization for the use of force, even as Washington employs “strange and twisted” pretexts about supposed drug trafficking, without providing evidence.
The ANSWER Coalition underscores that despite Washington’s rhetoric, 70% of the US population–across parties–opposes military intervention and that the entire world views such actions as clearly illegal.
Lawmakers seek to block US military action
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, a bipartisan group of US lawmakers announced that a new resolution had been introduced proposing to carry out a congressional vote that would block any military action by the Trump administration in Venezuela.
The legislators—including Democrats Tim Kaine, Chuck Schumer, and Adam Schiff, along with Republican Rand Paul—described a potential military intervention in Venezuela as “a colossal and costly mistake that would needlessly endanger the lives of our service members.” Their stance reflects widespread concern about the implications of a conflict in the region and signals growing alarm within Trump’s own party.
Additionally, US Representatives Jim McGovern and JoaquĂn Castro (both Democrats), along with Republican Thomas Massie, submitted their own resolution in the House. This measure aims to prevent hostilities without prior congressional authorization, reaffirming the constitutional role of the legislative branch in decisions of war.
The lawmakers warned that if an attack occurs, they will invoke the “War Powers Resolution” to initiate debate and a vote preventing the use of armed forces in the South American country. This legislative initiative emerges amid intense military activity and increasing threats against the sovereign government of President Nicolás Maduro.
Analysts have pointed out that war against Venezuela, even if carried out with US Congressional approval, would nonetheless constitute a flagrant violation of both Venezuelan sovereignty and multiple international legal frameworks.
Featured image: Banner demanding “no US war on Venezuela!” Photo: @PeoplesForumNYC.
(Telesur) with Orinoco Tribune content
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/CB/SL
Cameron Baillie is an award-winning journalist, editor, and researcher. He won and was shortlisted for awards across Britain and Ireland. He is Editor-in-Chief of New Sociological Perspectives graduate journal and Commissioning Editor at The Student Intifada newsletter. He spent the first half of 2025 living, working, and writing in Ecuador. He does news translation and proofreading work with The Orinoco Tribune.
