According to a statement, the Protection Collective was expecting and prepared for a power cut, and has no intention of leaving the embassy.
The activists drew a parallel between US "attacks" on Venezuela's electric grid, and this attack on the power supply at the embassy of Venezuela.
"We are not leaving, we are going to resist," the statement says.
Statement from the Embassy Protection Collective after US authorities cut the power to the besieged Venezuelan embassy in Washington, DC. pic.twitter.com/TFqyDcIf7K
— Alex Rubinstein (@RealAlexRubi) May 9, 2019
According to the witnesses, lights in the Venezuelan Embassy are completely out.
Pro-Guaidó side cheers, dances, hugs after lights go off inside — electricity cut.
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) May 9, 2019
For them, this is a big victory. It both indicates a tactical advantage for them against the people inside and an indication that the police will take tangible steps in the service of their side. pic.twitter.com/O53PXBq7SF
Earlier in the day, the Collective released a series of videos showing strange activity by police and utility workers around manholes nearby.
Strange police activity around a manhole. Embassy protectors suspect they are trying to shut the water off to the building pic.twitter.com/4YVGkFm4jc
— Alex Rubinstein (@RealAlexRubi) May 9, 2019
Police and utility doing more work at another manhole pic.twitter.com/HMGztAadOp
— Alex Rubinstein (@RealAlexRubi) May 9, 2019
Earlier the Collective reported that US Veterans for Peace Director, Jerry Condon was arrested for attempting to give food to embassy protectors
"Who do you serve? Who do you protect?" pic.twitter.com/n35rebx0Kw
— Alex Rubinstein (@RealAlexRubi) May 8, 2019
For last several weeks, with the permission of the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry, the Embassy Protection Collective activist group has been living in the embassy to prevent Guaido representatives from taking it over. The activists have been holding various events like lectures and speeches inside.
In January, Guaido illegally attempted to declare himself interim president of Venezuela after disputing Maduro's reelection victory in May. Washington immediately endorsed Guaido, called on Maduro to step down and seized billions of dollars' worth of the country's oil assets.
Russia, China, Cuba, Bolivia, Turkey and a number of other countries have voiced their support for Maduro as the only legitimate president of Venezuela.
UN special rapporteurs and human rights lawyers have described US economic sanctions on Venezuela as war crimes that could lead to starvation and medical shortages.
