Michigan police arrest woman speaking out against Trump’s Venezuela invasion mid-interview

Editor's note: This article has been updated to include a statement from a Grand Rapids Police Department spokesperson.

A protest organizer in Grand Rapids, Michigan was recently arrested while speaking out against President Donald Trump's ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro — while she was in the middle of speaking to reporters.

On Monday, Dallas, Texas-based small business owner Brandon Friedman posted a video to Bluesky showing a segment in which ABC affiliate WZZM interviewed Jessica Plichta of Grand Rapids Opponents of War, who organized a weekend protest in response to Maduro's capture. As Plichta was speaking, a police car is seen in the corner, and moments later two officers are seen putting Plichta in handcuffs.

"It's not just a foreign issue, it's our tax dollars that are being used to commit these war crimes," Plichta said. "It is also the duty of us, the people, to stand against the Trump regime, the Trump administration, for committing crimes both here in the U.S. and against people in Venezuela."

"What in the Gestapo is going on in Grand Rapids?" Friedman wrote on Bluesky.

WZZM reported that Plichta was arrested for "obstructing a roadway and failure to obey a lawful command from a police officer." Plichta told the outlet prior to her arrest that she was in Venezuela in December for the People's Assembly for Peace and Sovereignty of Our America summit.

"I saw Maduro in person,” Plichta said. “People loved him. Maduro was elected by the people. He is for the people and the people want to see his return. Free Maduro.”

The names of the two officers who arrested Plichta have not yet been released. A GRPD spokesperson responded to AlterNet's requests for comment with this statement:

"A group was marching in the roadway. Over 25 announcements were made from the PA system of a marked police cruiser for the group to leave the roadway and relocate their activities to the sidewalk. Blocking traffic in this manner is a direct violation of city and state law," the spokesperson stated. "The group refused lawful orders to move this free speech event to the sidewalk and instead began blocking intersections until the march ended. Patrol officers consulted with their sergeant and the watch commander who informed the officers that if the individuals could be located, they were subject to arrest. The adult woman who was arrested was positively identified by officers, and the lawful arrest was made."

Watch the video of Plichta's arrest below: