SARASOTA, FLA.- Demonstrators met in Sarasota near Bayfront Park to send a message to drivers along U.S. 41.
The demonstration comes after the Trump administration announced sanctions blocking all U.S. persons or businesses from working with Venezuela's state owned oil company.
Sanctions have been placed on Venezuela's state-owned oil firm
"The sanctions they just put on were $7 million in Venezuelan assets in the PDVSA company. It's just going to bring more suffering to the Venezuelan people," said Ruben Ferrer.
Ruben Ferrer came to the United States two decades ago from Venezuela.
"The real dictator is Mr. Guaido, the person they're trying to put into the presidency. That's a real dictator. That will not happen, that will not fly," said Ferrer.
The United States recognized Juan Guaido as Venezuela's interim president and has tried to get President Nicolas Maduro to exit.
U.S. Senator Rick Scott said on Twitter "On Friday, I called for stricter sanctions on Venezuela...This sends a clear message to Maduro that the U.S. is serious about its commitment to democracy in Venezuela and across the globe."
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio tweeted, "Venezuela's oil belongs to the Venezuelan people and the money for oil will now go to them through the legitimate government of Guaido."
"The United States does not have the right to impose an unelected, unknown person as the president of another country," said Bryan Ellis, Organizer with Answer Suncoast.
