An anti-war activist in the United States was arrested on camera immediately after finishing a televised interview where she criticised the Trump administration's military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The incident occurred in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Saturday, highlighting tensions surrounding US foreign policy.
Arrest Follows Critical Television Remarks
Jessica Plichta, an organiser with the Grand Rapids Opponents of War, had just spoken to local station WZZM. She addressed a rally organised hours after the US announced Maduro and his wife were taken into custody. "We have to apply pressure at all points that we can," Plichta stated during the interview. She argued the issue was not merely foreign, stressing, "it's our tax dollars that are also being used to commit these war crimes."
Plichta called it the American people's duty to stand against the Trump administration for "committing crimes both here in the US and against people in Venezuela." She revealed she had been in Venezuela three weeks prior for an international peace summit, the People's Assembly for Peace and Sovereignty of Our America. "I saw Maduro in person. People loved him," she told the reporter, asserting, "Maduro was elected by the people. He is for the people and the people want to see his return." She concluded her remarks with "Free Maduro."
Police Justify Detention for Obstruction
As Plichta unclipped her microphone, two Grand Rapids police officers approached from behind. Footage shows her placing her hands on her head as officers handcuffed her and led her to a patrol car. When a bystander inquired about the arrest, an officer stated she was obstructing a roadway and failed to obey a lawful command.
In a statement, the Grand Rapids Police Department said officers monitoring the march made over 25 announcements instructing protesters to move to the sidewalk. "Blocking traffic in this manner is a direct violation of city and state law," the department said. They claimed the group refused lawful orders and continued blocking intersections. After consulting supervisors, officers identified and arrested Plichta. She was released later the same day.
Activist Alleges Targeted Intimidation
Speaking later to Zeteo, Plichta expressed doubt her arrest was coincidental. "I don't think it's a coincidence that as soon as I finished an interview speaking on Venezuela, I was arrested," she said. She described being shoved into a patrol car without a seatbelt and driven away from cameras. Officers then pulled her out, searched her, and took her belongings. She claimed one officer said they moved her because she was "making a scene."
Plichta alleged officers repeatedly questioned her nationality, her connection to Venezuela, and her reason for protesting, and tried to get her to identify other demonstrators. "We are so accustomed to repression when we speak out on anti-war topics... we expect the police to want to shut that down," she told Zeteo. "It just shows how much they feel they can get away with things." Upon her release, a video shows her raising a fist and shouting, "Viva Maduro."
Online Backlash and Broader Protests
The arrest triggered significant backlash on social media. One user warned, "This is how it begins. Pretty soon no one will want to speak... These small acts of intimidation are how they get their point across." Another comment bluntly stated, "Trump's America is the new North Korea." However, some pushed back against this framing, with one commenter accusing critics of using "half truth[s]."
The Grand Rapids demonstration was one of several across the US condemning the detention of the Venezuelan leader. The incident has sparked a wider conversation about protest rights, police tactics, and the domestic fallout of US foreign interventions.
