Chavez is predictably carrying out what America's left habitually accuses Republicans of doing, silencing the opposition with an iron fist. Socialism always ends up having to clamp down on it's critics in order to stay in power, just ask the Cubans.
Venezuelan police fired tear gas and plastic bullets Monday into a crowd of thousands protesting a decision by President Hugo Chavez that forced a television station critical of his leftist government off the air.
Police fired toward the crowd of up to 5,000 protesters from a raised highway, and protesters fled amid clouds of tear gas. They later regrouped in Caracas' Plaza Brion chanting "freedom!" Some tossed rocks and bottles at police, prompting authorities to scatter demonstrators by firing more gas.
It was the largest of several protests that broke out across Caracas hours after Radio Caracas Television ceased broadcasting at midnight Sunday and was replaced with a new state-funded channel. Chavez had refused to renew RCTV's broadcast license, accusing it of "subversive" activities and of backing a 2002 coup against him.
...and it's only the beginning...
Chavez says he is democratizing the airwaves by turning the network's signal over to public use.
The socialist president accused the network of helping to incite a failed coup in 2002, violating broadcast laws and "poisoning" Venezuelans with programming that promoted capitalism. RCTV's managers deny wrongdoing.
Trackposted to Blue Star Chronicles, Pirate's Cove, Perri Nelson's Website, Leaning Straight Up, The Bullwinkle Blog, third world county, Conservative Cat, and Right Voices, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
