Venezuela Violence: 4 Things You Didn't Know About Protests Against Nicolás Maduro Explained By Citizen Alessandra Sironi [VIDEO]

The citizens of Venezuela started rallying on Feb. 12, 2014, on the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Victoria, to protest Nicolas Maduro's government. The initial protests--led by the leaders of the Venezuelan opposition María Corina Machado and Leopoldo López--were followed by a large, city-wide protest on Saturday, Feb. 15. While the protests were led by Machado and López, it was students who coordinated and staged the protests and provided them with the backing.

"We join the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Secretary General of the Organization of American States, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, and others in condemning this senseless violence," said US Secretary of State John Kerry in a statement. "We call on the Venezuelan government to provide the political space necessary for meaningful dialogue with the Venezuelan people and to release detained protestors. We urge all parties to work to restore calm and refrain from violence."

The protests have escalated, leading to arrests and deaths, and Maduro has threatened to block CNN's broadcast for portraying the nation as if it were in the middle of the civil war. "You think this is a novel? This is the reality that you with your hatred have created," said Maduro in a nationally televised broadcast Wednesday night. "If you don't like Venezuela, leave."

Many Venezuelans living abroad have been speaking out in support of the protests. One such individual is Alessandra Sironi, a Venezuelan living in the United States, who has been reporting about what is happening in her motherland using footage from recent protests, narrated by Andreina Nash. "My name is Alessandra Sironi. I am a Venezuelan living in the US. I love my country and I want the world to know what's going on. We have an informative media blackout imposed by the Government. P L E A S E SHARE! This video was made using footage of the recent protests in Venezuela," reads her YouTube account.

Take a view of the video below to learn more: