The Illinois Republican Party has announced that Illinois Democrats and the Chicago Teachers Union have been promoting protests following the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. authorities.
According to Reuters, Nicolás Maduro pleaded not guilty in a U.S. federal court after being captured by U.S. forces and brought to New York. The report highlights that the United States does not recognize the legitimacy of Maduro’s 2018 re-election, which is central to his claim for head-of-state immunity as he faces charges of narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking. This case could set a precedent regarding whether U.S. courts can prosecute a disputed foreign head of state.
Left Voice reported that the Chicago Teachers Union amplified an “EMERGENCY PROTEST: NO WAR ON VENEZUELA. STOP THE BOMBINGS” call on January 3, 2026, urging supporters to join them in demanding an end to U.S. aggression against Venezuela. The protest was scheduled at Chicago’s Federal Plaza with a start time of 5 p.m., and the union encouraged participation in the ANSWER Coalition rally as similar protests were organized nationwide.
Freedom Foundation noted that in 2019, a group identified as the “CTU Delegation” traveled to Venezuela, using the Chicago Teachers Union logo for fundraising purposes, with trip updates retweeted by CTU’s official Twitter account. The article mentions CTU executive board member Sarah Chambers praised Nicolás Maduro for never closing public schools or health clinics after CTU passed a resolution opposing U.S. action in Venezuela.
Following Maduro’s seizure by U.S. forces, Governor JB Pritzker posted on social media that Trump’s strike on Venezuela was “unconstitutional” and endangered U.S. troops without a long-term strategy. Mayor Brandon Johnson said that the operation violated international law, dangerously escalated tensions toward war, and was solely about oil and power rather than defending the Venezuelan people.
The Illinois Republican Party (ILGOP), which traces its roots back to Abraham Lincoln and early civil rights work, states its current focus includes equal opportunity, education reform, religious liberty, and safer neighborhoods through local county committees and volunteers across Illinois.
