Evangelicals march in Venezuela on 'International Families Day'

(16 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Caracas, Venezuela - 15 May 2024
1. Various of woman holding banner showing drawing icons depicting family. Banner reads: "I am in favor of the original design. The family is as God created it"
2. Hundreds of evangelical pastors and faithful marching to defend the family values in downtown Caracas
3. Various of people singing religious songs and praying
4. Evis Maita, evangelical pastor, standing at rally
5. Evis Maita wearing headband reading: "God is love"
6. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Evis Maita, Evangelical pastor
"The family is degenerating. It is a degeneration that is happening because we have given to the 'open mind'. And what does the open mind achieve? It sinks us. Such things God does not approve of either"
7. Pastor preaching to people. UPSOUND (Spanish) "And no one is going to come and damage God's design, the divine design of our family!"
8. Picture of president Nicolás Maduro and his family shown at rally with a phrase that reads: "Life, family and faith"
9. Various of Maduro marching alongside supporters
10. Various of Maduro with eyes closed listening to pastor prayers
11. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Nicolás Maduro, President of Venezuela
"I am a president that you will never see me with weaknesses in the face of evil and wickedness. I am not a lazy president; weak, manipulable, without energy. I am a president determined to re-found the value of the family, the Venezuelan family."
12. Wide of Maduro speaking
13. Maduro showing a recognition that was handed to him by pastors to honor the "praiseworthy work of the president in the defense of Christian values and principles"
STORYLINE:
In celebration of International Families Day, hundreds of evangelical pastors and faithful took the streets this Wednesday in Caracas to defend what they believe is the traditional family model.
Many expressed concern over what they believe is the breakdown of the family caused by same-sex couples.
"What does the open mind achieve? It sinks us. Such things God does not approve of either", said Evis Maita, an evangelical pastor who went to the rally to support the traditional family model.
"No one is going to come and damage God's design, the divine design of our family!", shouted another pastor from a stage.
President Maduro joined the march which toured around a park in the heart of downtown Caracas. Faithful and supporters walked beside him effusively as they tried to get his attention to take pictures.
Maduro listened to prayers from pastors and received recognition for his "praiseworthy work in the defense of Christian values and principles".
"You will never see me with weaknesses in the face of evil and wickedness", Maduro said in front of hundreds of eager pastors and faithful who reacted emotionally to his speech.
AP Video shot by Juan Arraez
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