Winnipeggers support Venezuelan family members among violent protests

Winnipeggers with family and friends inVenezuela are keeping a worried eye on thetroubledcountry as student protests escalate.

At least nine people have been killed and more than 100 injured.

• Venezuela gripped by opposing rallies after days of violence
• Venezuela's Leopoldo Lopez eggs on protesters from jail
• Tweets reflect rival clashes in streets
• U.S. diplomats accused of promoting protests expelled from Venezuela

Amidstthe chaos, Venezuelans withties to Canada are keeping in touch with their loved ones through social media.

Erica Riley, a Winnipeg resident with ties to Venezuela, has been thankful for the little news she can get from her family.

"Some of our family members and friends have been able to actually message us and tell us what's been going on right in the front line, and that has helped us to pass the word out," said Riley.

Six people have died, five from gunshots, and one run over by a vehicle, as the protests turnedviolentin Caracas and surrounding cities,especially in the Andes.

This is the biggest demonstration against President Nicolas Maduro's year-old administration. The protests wereintended as peaceful protests to show public discontent over high crime, food shortages and other problems facing Venezuela.

According to Rileythere will be rallies in as many as 100 cities around the world today in support of the protests.

Winnipeg's rally will be held outside the Canadian Museum for Human rights at 3 p.m. CT.