TAMPA, Fla. — Construction is something that is on Marynes Mateos’ mind as the managing director of Matcon Construction in Tampa. But even as she works in her office, she says her heart is with family and friends in Venezuela.

What You Need To Know

  •  A demonstration is planned for Saturday at 10 a.m. on Dale Mabry Highway and W. Columbus Drive

  •  The protest is in response to the recent presidential election in Venezuela

  •  The leader of the opposition group in Venezuela called on people to participate in this worldwide demonstration Saturday morning

Members of the opposition to current President Nicolas Maduro say the incumbent lost in recent elections, and that candidate Edmundo Gonzalez actually won.

Despite that, Maduro claimed victory — even as Venezuelan officials delayed the release of the country’s detailed vote tallies.

It’s led to protests in Venezuela, and in Tampa, where demonstrators lined Dale Mabry Highway earlier this week.

“It’s just such a beautiful country,” Mateos said. “Not just the geography, but just the people, the culture. I mean, I miss it so much.”

Even though Tampa is home and has been for years, Mateos still has cousins and other family members in Venezuela, which is why she doesn’t want to stay silent.

“We want them to know that we’re here, we’re supporting them, and they’re not alone,” she said.

She, along with many others in Venezuela and the bay area, is not happy with how the country’s recent presidential election was handled.

“You see a lot of Venezuelans on the streets right now protesting because they want to see the truth,” she said.

Participating in those demonstrations in Venezuela, according to Mateos, has even left some of her family members there worried for their safety.

She said they’re afraid to even look at messages from family outside of the country for fear that a law enforcement officer might take their phone, see opposing views and potentially put them in jail.

So Mateos and many others will be heading to the corner of Dale Mabry Highway and West Columbus Drive Saturday at 10 a.m. to stand in solidarity with Venezuelans continuing to push for their voices to be heard.

“If we don’t speak up, and if we don’t continue to express was our feelings of what’s going on, I feel like we’re going to lose the momentum,” Mateos said. “We don’t want that.”

In response to the election, the Biden administration has called on Venezuela to release its detailed voting data to solidify the results of the election.