page_title: Timeline of the 2014 Venezuelan protests
section_title: April
hierarchical_section_title: Timeline of the 2014 Venezuelan protests / April
caption_attribution_description: English: Effigies of Nicolas Maduro and others that were burnt during a Burning of Judas event in Venezuela.
context_page_description: The 2014 Venezuelan protests began in February 2014 when hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans protested due to high levels of criminal violence, inflation, and chronic scarcity of basic goods because of policies created the Venezuelan government. The protests have lasted for several months and events are listed below according to the month they had happened.
context_section_description: 1 April - In a New York Times op-ed, President Maduro discusses the ongoing protests.  He writes of distortions by the foreign media, claiming the protests primarily represent wealthier segments of society, not "mainstream sentiment," and points to improvements in inequality and poverty and the creation of universal health care and education programs. Citizens of Caracas protested demanding justice and the end of repression. María Corina Machado along with supporters began a march toward downtown Caracas protesting against Machado's expulsion and were surrounded by the National Guard which prevented them from leaving and dispersed with tear gas.  Protests in front of the UN headquarters began blocking Francisco de Miranda Avenue. Barricades continued to block traffic in many cities. Amnesty International presented a report about "torture, abuse, arbitrary arrests, helplessness and human rights violations against opponents of the government" with the organization saying protesters "do not want to talk for fear of retaliation".
  2 April - Students from the Central University of Venezuela (UCV), Andrés Bello Catholic University (UCAB), Simón Bolívar University (USB), Monte Avila University (AMU) and the Metropolitan University (Unimet) conducted meetings discussing which activities should be performed in the future.  Students of UCV continued to protest and refused to return to classes. A professor at Simon Bolivar University did not deny that trees have been used in barricades but says that the president's claim of 5,000 trees is a "product of political confrontation" and said that deforestation by companies was more dangerous due to "the lack of environmental monitoring by the Ministry of Environment". The Bolivarian National Police began using stun grenades on protesters in Chacao.
  3 April - The Colegio de Abogados de Venezuela went to the Supreme Tribunal of Justice and denounced the imprisonment of public officials calling it a "kidnapping". President Maduro signed a decree creating the Human Rights Council, with the aim of "fully enforcing the Venezuelans' human rights". Maduro stated that "If they want to change the government out of desperation, whether at the level of a mayor, a governor, or the President of the Republic, here is your way to do it (the Constitution of Venezuela). Collect the signatures, if you get enough of them, then we're calling a referendum in 2016". Colectivos entered into the UCV, and a student was undressed and beaten by these groups.
  4 April - In the early morning, about 70 protesters gathered discussing problems in Plaza Candelaria and were assaulted by colectivos with violent insults, threats with firearms and some pushing while neighbors retaliated with fireworks and throwing objects. Leopoldo Lopez was formally indicted of "arson in degree of determiner, public incitement, damage to public property and grade determiner conspiracy" and could face more than 13 years in prison if convicted. In Barquisimeto, a tank belonging to the National Guard ran over a fleeing 18-year-old protester.  President of the faculty association of the Central University of Venezuela, Victor Marquez, called on President Maduro to protect students saying the problems at the university "stem from a government policy of not allowing peaceful public protests" after colectivos armed with wooden clubs, metal rods and guns attacked the university at least 10 times during the protests while government forces watched without intervening. President Maduro condemned the violent acts that occurred at the UCV and claimed that the students were beaten by "fascists".
  5 April - María Corina Machado visited student protesting in front of the UN headquarters. President Maduro said he would not have dialogue with "fascists" and said the MUD does not want dialogue because they are "betting on a meltdown".
  6 April - The Student Movement called on Venezuelans to place Venezuelan flags and other objects containing the Venezuelan flag's tricolor on cars, homes and clothing. Nairobi Pinto, chief editor for Globovision was kidnapped by t
caption: Effigies of Nicolas Maduro and other government figures that were burnt during a Burning of Judas gathering on Easter.
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