International

Tens of thousands of Venezuelans, many draped in their country’s flag, took to the streets on Wednesday, answering the opposition’s call for a nationwide protest to force President Nicolás Maduro from office.

“Freedom, freedom!” one group chanted in Caracas, the capital.

“Today I am not afraid,” said Marta López, a 46-year-old business manager who added that the country’s economic crisis has become unbearable. “Today we all need to turn out to rescue our homeland.”

The demonstration is part of a renewed push by Venezuela’s opposition, which was left largely powerless and divided after a burst of antigovernment activism in 2017 was crushed by security forces. The opposition is hoping that a significant turnout on Wednesday will help persuade the nation’s military to break ranks with the president.

Scores of anti-government demonstrations throughout the country erupted overnight. Opposition leaders say the effort to oust Mr. Maduro, who was sworn in for a second term on Jan. 10, has a better chance of succeeding now because his government is collapsing under the weight of an economic crisis and is more isolated than ever.