This Wednesday, December 3, interfaith leaders, community members, and elected officials from New York will hold a vigil for peace in Brooklyn to demand a diplomatic solution from the United States in Venezuela, in the face of the growing threat from the Trump Administration to carry out a military intervention in the South American nation.

The event, which will take place this Wednesday, echoes the urgent calls from the Vatican, the World Council of Churches, and the World Communion of Reformed Churches, which advocate for dialogue between the occupant of the White House and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

RELATED:

Schumer Threatens ‘War Powers Vote’ to Block U.S. Military Action in Venezuela

The organizers denounce reports of US military attacks that have killed more than 80 people, in addition to the continued US military deployment in the Caribbean Sea, just a few kilometers from the Venezuelan coast. These operations have been categorized by governments and experts as extrajudicial killings and violations of international law.

Religious and community leaders are emphasizing the need for diplomacy to prevent further loss of innocent Venezuelan lives, the potential loss of American lives, and the destruction of vital infrastructure should the Trump administration engage in a war not authorized by the U.S. Congress.

The vigil for peace in Venezuela, which will include prayers and speeches by religious leaders, will be held on December 3, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. EST (8:00 p.m. Venezuela time), at Trinity Lutheran Church, located at 416 46th St., Sunset Park, Brooklyn, New York. Ambassador Samuel Moncada, Venezuela’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, has been invited to speak. The church will livestream the vigil on its Facebook page.

“We are witnessing a march toward war, but as people of faith, we must march for peace,” stated Reverend Dr. Samuel Cruz of Trinity Lutheran Church, who is organizing the event. 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, Reverend Dr. Eli Valentín, pastor of Centro Pasión, emphasized that “every life lost in this escalating conflict is a tragedy.” Reverend Dr. Derrick Boykin, executive pastor of Walker Memorial Baptist Church in the Bronx, invoked the legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who criticized American militarism.

More Action Against the War

Under the slogan “No to War Against Venezuela!”, the ANSWER coalition called for a day of protests next Saturday, December 6, in at least seven U.S. cities. The mobilization seeks to stop what they describe as a “large-scale regime change” operation in Venezuela being prepared by the Trump Administration.

The organizers emphasize the urgency of acting now, noting that the White House occupant promised ground attacks “very soon” and illegally ordered the closure of Venezuelan airspace, an action they consider a clear sign of military escalation.

Furthermore, they denounce the unconstitutional disregard for a declaration of war or congressional authorization for the use of force, all while employing “strange and convoluted” pretexts about alleged drug trafficking, without providing any evidence.

The Answer Coalition underscores that, despite Washington’s rhetoric, 70 percent of the American population opposes military intervention, and that the entire world considers these actions clearly illegal.

Lawmakers seek to prevent military action

Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of US congressmen announced on Tuesday the introduction of a new resolution to force a vote in Congress, with the aim of blocking any military action by the Trump Administration in Venezuela.

Lawmakers, including Democrats Tim Kaine, Chuck Schumer, and Adam Schiff, along with Republican Rand Paul, called a potential military intervention in Venezuela “a colossal and costly mistake that would needlessly endanger the lives of our military personnel.” This stance underscores widespread concern about the implications of conflict in the region and reveals growing alarm within Trump’s own party.

Additionally, Representatives Jim McGovern and Joaquín Castro (both Democrats) and Thomas Massie (Republican) introduced their own resolution in the House of Representatives. This measure seeks to prevent hostilities without prior congressional authorization, reaffirming the constitutional role of the legislative branch in decisions regarding war.

The lawmakers warned that, should an attack occur, they would resort to legal action.

IN THIS ARTICLE