A Michigan protest organizer was arrested live on TV while speaking out against President Donald Trump’s strike in Venezuela.
Jessica Plichta, 22, a preschool teacher and activist with Grand Rapids Opponents of War, was mid-interview with ABC’s WZZM when officers suddenly moved in. She was handcuffed and led away, bringing the broadcast to a sudden halt.
“It’s not just a foreign issue; it’s our tax dollars that are being used to commit these war crimes,” Plichta told the camera. “It is also the duty of us, the people, to stand against the Trump regime, the Trump administration, that are committing crimes both here in the U.S. and against people in Venezuela.”
As she was escorted to a police car, Plichta could be heard insisting, “I am not resisting arrest.”
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The footage blew up online.
WATCH: Woman arrested mid-interview after criticizing Trump’s Venezuela invasion.
But you won’t hear a peep from the self-anointed “free speech warriors” like Elon Musk or Bari Weiss. pic.twitter.com/G20aab0m8w
— Kaivan Shroff (@KaivanShroff) January 5, 2026
WZZM later reported that she had been charged with “obstructing a roadway and failure to obey a lawful command from a police officer.”
Police said the protest group had been marching in the street.
A spokesperson explained: “Over 25 announcements were made from the PA system of a marked police cruiser for the group to leave the roadway and relocate their activities to the sidewalk. Blocking traffic in this manner is a direct violation of city and state law. The group refused lawful orders. Patrol officers consulted with their sergeant and the watch commander who informed the officers that individuals could be subject to arrest. The adult woman who was arrested was positively identified by officers, and the lawful arrest was made.”
Plichta had just returned from Venezuela, where she attended the People’s Assembly for Peace and Sovereignty of Our America summit. Her trip gave her firsthand experience with the effects of U.S. foreign policy, which she wanted to highlight in the protest.
After her release, Plichta told Zeteo, “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that as soon as I finished an interview speaking on Venezuela, I was arrested – the only person arrested out of 200 people.”
Featured image via X screengrab
