On Thursday 16 April, workers and retirees gathered in the upscale Las Mercedes district of Caracas (Venezuela's capital) to protest low wages — this time directing their demands at the United States embassy, which reopened in late March. The unusual choice of venue reflects a broader shift in public sentiment following the removal of President Nicolás Maduro in January 2026, after which many Venezuelans have come to view Washington as the de facto decision-maker in the country. Protesters say that while some economic and political changes have followed — including the release of hundreds of political prisoners — living conditions for ordinary Venezuelans remain dire, with prices continuing to soar and the minimum wage still unchanged.