(CNN) He had become an icon, the violinist who played on as protesters and police clashed around him. 
 
 But on Wednesday, the music stopped. 
 
 Wuilly Arteaga says the National Guard took his violin from him and handed it back -- in pieces. 
 
 "I was playing in the middle of the protest when National Guard vehicles approached us and one of the guards grabbed my violin by the strings," Arteaga told Colombian news channel NTN 24. "I didn't let go, and was dragged from the motorcycle through the whole street." 
 
 "At some point, I let go of the violin, because I couldn't [hold on] anymore." 
 
 Read More ||||| Tear Gas Doesn't Stop Venezuelan Protester From Playing The Violin 
 
 Enlarge this image toggle caption Maria Fernanda Martinez/Courtesy of Wuilly Arteaga Maria Fernanda Martinez/Courtesy of Wuilly Arteaga 
 
 Protests have been steadily building in Caracas, Venezuela — the capital of the once-prosperous, oil-rich nation that's now in economic and political turmoil. Earlier this week, amid the ongoing chaos, a young man named Wuilly Arteaga started playing his violin. 
 
 A video filmed during the protest shows Arteaga, 23, standing in the street as smoke billows in every direction. The eerie notes from the violin can be heard as tear-gas canisters explode around him. At one point, he says, he couldn't breathe. A group of nearby protesters made a barrier between him and the police with homemade cardboard shields. 
 
 "I was playing the national anthem and the protesters starting protecting me," Arteaga says in Spanish. "My music was like a gift to them. Like the sound of hope." 
 
 Arteaga, who taught himself how to play violin from videos on the internet, was playing "Gloria Al Bravo Pueblo" ("Glory To The Brave People"), the national anthem of Venezuela. 
 
 This week of demonstrations isn't the first and will likely not be the last. Over the last month, Venezuelans all over the country have been taking to the streets to protest their government and the quickly declining situation in their country. At least 39 people have died in the clashes, and it's estimated hundreds have been injured. 
 
 "Things here are sad," Arteaga says. "Venezuela is suffering right now with so much death. But rather than being angry with the government or with any one person, I always try to bring a message of peace." 
 
 Arteaga says this is not the first time he's used music as a form of protest. But after this video made the rounds online, he's started getting threatening messages and calls. This type of attention isn't ideal for Arteaga, who now says he has to be extra careful. But he believes his music will help bring Venezuelans together. 
 
 "There is no better time than now to be playing my music in the streets," Arteaga says. "This is the place we need it most, where we need music to have hope." 
 
 "Venezuela," he adds, "is worth fighting for." 
 
 Radio producer Camilo Garzón contributed to this story. ||||| Rating is available when the video has been rented. 
 
 This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. ||||| Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Violinist Wuilly Arteaga playing the Venezuelan national anthem amid the protests earlier in May 
 
 Venezuelans have rallied online to help a violist who had his instrument broken during a protest. 
 
 Wuilly Arteaga has become a regular fixture at the country's street demonstrations, calmly playing classical tunes amid the chaos. 
 
 But on Wednesday evening, a video went viral, showing him in tears with a scuffed violin, its strings all broken, allegedly by police. 
 
 His growing fanbase has offered to raise funds for a new instrument. 
 
 Image copyright AFP Image caption A tearful Wuilly Arteaga with his broken violin on Wednesday 
 
 Mr Arteaga thanked his supporters with a video message on Twitter: "Even though I lost my phone in the protests, I have been receiving lots of messages via social networks." 
 
 He said he has not been involved in any of the fundraising activities, and has not accepted any donations, but he will start replying to people on Thursday. 
 
 Image copyright CHECK Image caption He was pictured playing earlier on Wednesday, before the instrument was damaged 
 
 Earlier, the musician told local reporters his account of how the violin was broken. 
 
 "I was playing in the middle of the protest when the National Guards' motorcyclists came up and grabbed the violin by its strings," he said. 
 
 He said he refused to let go and fell down, hurting his leg, which is when it was pulled from his arms. 
 
 When he asked for it back, a member of the forces gave him the damaged instrument and Mr Arteaga said he hugged him. 
 
 Image copyright AFP Image caption He has often been seen in the thick of the protests 
 
 Image copyright EPA Image caption Here he is again, playing in Caracas, earlier this month 
 
 Mr Arteaga often dresses in full yellow, blue and red colours of the Venezuelan flag, and has become a symbol of the more peaceful approach to protesting, although he is often found playing in the front line. 
 
 Venezuela has seen almost daily anti-government protests since April and at least 55 people have been killed in protest-related violence. 
 
 The country's deepening economic and political crisis has led to triple-digit inflation, a high crime rate and clashes between protesters and security forces.
– Wuilly Arteaga has played his violin through weeks of anti-government protests in Venezuela, his songs enduring even as he was forced to dodge tear gas canisters hurled in his direction. But on Wednesday, the music was silenced. Arteaga—often seen playing Venezuela's national anthem on the front lines—says his violin was broken by the National Guard during a skirmish, reports CNN. "I was playing in the middle of the protest when the National Guards' motorcyclists came up and grabbed the violin by its strings," the 23-year-old says, per the BBC. He adds he held on and was dragged down the street by the motorcycle before an officer finally wrestled the violin from his grasp. His leg injured, Arteaga says he pleaded with the National Guard to return the violin and another officer eventually did. But Arteaga's reaction wasn't one of joy or relief. In a video, Arteaga—dressed as usual in the colors of the Venezuelan flag—is seen crying while holding a scuffed violin with its strings broken. Supporters have since reached out on social media with offers to buy him a new instrument, reports the BBC. It isn't clear when his music might return to the protests, but Arteaga previously told NPR, "There is no better time than now to be playing my music in the streets … This is the place we need it most, where we need music to have hope." Read more about the hellish situation in Venezuela here.