Students across Venezuela are returning to the streets in a renewed wave of activism after years of repression and fear under the government of former president Nicolás Maduro.
In mid-February, hundreds of students from the Central University of Venezuela in Caracas staged a protest that moved beyond the university campus and into nearby streets—an act that had long been considered too dangerous.
For years, student activism in Venezuela carried serious risks. Demonstrations outside campuses often resulted in protesters being beaten, detained, or worse. International organizations, including the United Nations, have previously documented allegations of torture against detainees, including electric shocks, asphyxiation, and sleep deprivation.
During the recent protest, students marched together with relatives of political prisoners, chanting “Free them all.” For many participants, it was their first experience of openly protesting in public.
“I was born in 2003 and all I knew was fear… until today,” said Paola Carrillo, a 22-year-old student union member addressing the crowd.
A decade ago, university students were at the center of massive anti-government demonstrations in Venezuela. But those protests gradually faded after a strong crackdown by security forces and pro-government motorcycle groups, which left hundreds dead. At the same time, a severe economic crisis forced many students to leave universities and enter the workforce.
Now a new generation of students is emerging. Most of them have grown up entirely under the socialist political movement known as “Chavismo,” established by former president Hugo Chávez in 1999.
Student leaders say their demands extend beyond the release of political prisoners. They are calling for the repeal of laws related to hate speech and terrorism that they claim have been used to suppress dissent. They are also demanding free and fair elections, reforms to rebuild state institutions, increased university budgets, and higher salaries for professors—many of whom reportedly earn just a few dollars per month.
Miguelangel Suarez, president of the student federation at the Central University of Venezuela, recently confronted interim leader Delcy Rodríguez during a campus event in January. The moment, widely shared on social media, reflected growing confidence among student activists.
“We are willing to engage in dialogue,” Suarez said, adding that authorities should listen to the concerns of students and universities.
Experts believe students could become a significant political force in the coming period. Around 1.3 million university students are eligible to vote in the country of roughly 28 million people, potentially making them an influential voting bloc.
While many students expressed relief at the departure of Maduro, some also voiced concern over the circumstances surrounding his removal. They said they had hoped for political change through peaceful and democratic means rather than foreign intervention.
Despite these concerns, many students say they now feel freer to speak out.
For José Castellanos, a 22-year-old economics student who was detained for nearly four months in 2025 on charges he denies, the struggle is deeply personal.
“Being in prison made me stronger,” he said while attending a recent protest. “We will continue peacefully in the streets, demanding democracy and our rights as Venezuelans.”