Aurora police prepare ahead of rumored Venezuelan community rally in response to recent election

There have been rumors online and in person that there will be a gathering of Venezuelan immigrants in Aurora this weekend, but police say those are just rumors so far.

Acting APD Deputy Chief Chris Juul says he’s been heard concerns from Auroransbut he says he’s not sure even one will happen.

“While we don’t have direct information about a specific location in Aurora or anywhere in Aurora, we are preparing for any eventuality,” Juul said.

Venezuelans around the world have issued a call to protest around the world this weekend. When the results of the nation’s most recent election came in earlier this month, Aurora saw a large gathering of people in a parking lot at the Gardens shopping center in Havana. Juul admits they didn’t see it coming because it was a spontaneous event, and says that while a few bad actors used the opportunity to their advantage, the event posed no threat to the community.

“The vast majority of them are just trying to exercise their First Amendment rights,” Juul said.

Marielena Suarez is the executive director of Papagayo, a nonprofit organization that has been helping Venezuelan refugees resettle in Colorado since 2017. She says that after nearly three decades of the same policies and similar leadership that led to starvation and economic collapse, many Venezuelan professional families they left country and hope that after the recent elections this month, they will finally see a change in leadership.

“Venezuelan people are eager to have a change. Families want to have a future,” Suarez said. “They want to be heard.”

That’s something Juul acknowledges and says officers are coming in on their days off this weekend in case something happens, but he doesn’t anticipate any violence.

“I will tell you, by and large, those gatherings are full of good people who just want to make their voices heard, and by and large, the community is safe,” Juul said.

APD says they have reached out to the Venezuelan community in Aurora to ensure that if an event does occur, it will be as safe as possible for everyone.