Venezuelans in Los Angeles Describe Mix of Emotions Over Political Crisis at Home

Some Los Angeles residents from Venezuela described a mix of emotions this week as their home country is in the midst of political crisis.

Rafael Molina, a Venezuelan actor and activist living in Los Angeles, said he felt like he could finally take a breath of fresh air after Juan Guaido, a 35-year-old National Assembly opposition leader, announced himself as the acting president of Venezuela and called on President Nicolas Maduro to step down from power.

The Trump administration announced it was recognizing Guaido as president quickly after his oath, leading Maduro to announce that he was breaking all diplomatic ties with the United States.

"The worst has not ended," Molina told NBC4 on Thursday. "There was much blood spilled last night. Maduro will not leave that easy. We are looking at a complicated topic — possibly a civil war."

Molina said he's been keeping in touch with his sister and nephews living in Caracas, the capital.

"They are telling me that there is a lot of tension and uncertainty," Molina said. "They are buying groceries for two weeks but food is scarce. They are feeling a sense of hope. There is a bitter-sweet wait to see if the government will shift."

Molina is planning to take part in a demonstration Saturday when hundreds are expected to rally outside of the Wilshire Federal Building. It follows a previous rally held on Wednesday night when hundreds of people took to the streets in Hollywood.

Wearing Venezuelan flags and hats, people chanted "liberty!" on opposing sides of the street.

Venezuelan-born resident Jenny Gomez, who attended Wednesday's demonstrations said she felt happy, yet nervous for her country.

"We want a country for all Venezuelans," she told NBC4 sister station Telmundo52.

Another rally participant, Venezuelan actress and former Miss Venezuela and Miss Universe Alicia Machado, was ecstatic.

"The news was like a ray of hope," Machado said as she fought back tears. "It's like being sick and someone tells you that there is medicine to treat it."

Jamal Mourad, who studies geopolitics in the city of Bell, said that Guido "auto criminalized" himself when he announced to be interim president.

Mourad told NBC4 that he did not agree with Guido's actions and believes military intervention, both foreign and domestic, if necessary will not be successful in removing Maduro from power.

"I am surprised, and I am even more proud to see the resistance the people there are withstanding," he said. "The people are inspired, and they are willing to resist to retake their country."

Mayra Marchan, former university instructor who now lives in Florida, helps nonprofits from coast to coast coordinate with each other to provide medical aid, food and other supplies to people in Venezuela.

She has worked with nonprofit All For Venezuela, which is based in Long Beach, to send medicine to people living in the South American nation.

"I felt like I was in a dark place and the light broke through," Marchan said of Guido's actions as she fought back tears. "The light gives us hope. I think that everyone, the young the not so young, has everything to make our country move forward."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.