Large crowds gathered on the streets of Caracas to mourn Hugo Chavez on Wednesday.
It was a massive outpouring of grief for the late president.
There were chants, too, defiantly proclaiming that their “comandante” lives on.
Thousands of people marched alongside the casket containing Chavez’s body, as it was driven from the hospital where he died Tuesday, to the Military Academy, where his body will lie in state for three days before a state funeral.
“Men like our commander Chavez leave an irreparable loss,”said one man in the grieving crowd. “He was a heroic man who fought for Venezuela, especially for us, the poor.”
A crying woman said: “My heart is broken, Chavez took a piece of my heart.”
But not all people were “Chavistas.”
“I think the best future for Venezuela is without Chavez, but he does leave a legacy. I don’t share many of his ideas, but he does leave some positive things for the country,” he said.
One strong supporter of Hugo Chavez was marching in that crowd. His name is Augusto Montiel, he is a member of Venezuela’s National Assembly, and of Chavez’s ruling United Socialist Party.
Montiel said supporters vowed to continue the work of Hugo Chavez and give their support to interim leader Nicolas Maduro.
At The World, we believe strongly that human-centered journalism is at the heart of an informed public and a strong democracy. We see democracy and journalism as two sides of the same coin. If you care about one, it is imperative to care about the other.
Every day, our nonprofit newsroom seeks to inform and empower listeners and hold the powerful accountable. Neither would be possible without the support of listeners like you. If you believe in our work, will you give today? We need your help now more than ever!