2015 protests in Venezuela began in the first days of January primarily due to shortages in the country, with the first massive demonstration occurring on 23 January, on the anniversary of the 1958 coup d'etat against dictator Marcos Pérez Jiménez. The series of protests originally began in February 2014 when hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans protested due to high levels of criminal violence, inflation, and chronic scarcity of basic goods because of policies created the Venezuelan government. As of January 2015, over 50 people had been arrested for protesting. The protests are listed below according to the month they had happened.
January
1 January – Students who chained themselves together in Plaza Altamira on 18 December 2014 remained chained and demanded the release of arrested protesters and stated that their actions "achieved the objective of generating reflection Venezuelans about the situation of political prisoners in the country." Three people remained chained together in Maracay after three consecutive days stating that they wish to stay at the site for at least six days to "call to the conscience". 3 January – Several people began protesting in Los Teques due to the long lines to purchase goods. 5 January –Peaceful protests occurred on Francisco Miranda Avenue in Chacao denouncing the poor situation of Venezuela while demanding the release of protesters arrest by the National Guard. 6 January – Students held a peaceful protest on Las Delicias Avenue in Maracay to send a message to Venezuela and the international community showing solidarity with arrested protesters while also criticizing the security policies of the Bolivarian government. Protesters demonstrated for a second day on Francisco Miranda Avenue in Chacao addressing the social, economic and political crisis in Venezuela while also asking for the release of those arrested. 7 January – Students from the Catholic University of Táchira peacefully protested on the main street of San Cristobal which resulted in 12 arrested, including 4 minors. 8 January – For the fourth consecutive day, protests occurred in Chacao with barricades reappearing, which resulted in response from authorities with tear gas. The Pan American Highway was blocked by students in Los Toques causing heavy back ups. 9 January – After clashes with protesters, the National Guard and National Police destroyed memorabilia of those injured or killed during the protests. Five individuals were arrested in Chacao for possessing gas masks. Residents of La Candelaria protested due to long lines that mostly last more than 8 hours and shortages in stores. 10 January – In Santa Fe, protesters blocked traffic on Prados del Este Highway and attempted to construct a barricade, but were dispersed in about 30 minutes. 5 individuals were arrested in San Bernardino after protesting near a government Bicentennial market. 12 January – Opposition leader Henrique Capriles Radonski said it was time for Venezuelans to mobilize following growing shortages and large lines for food in January, but noted that it was "not the time of guarimba". In Naguanagua, protests and authorities clashed with tear gas being fired by the National Guard. 13 January – The Catholic University of Táchira suspended classes due to strong protests in the area that left more than 20 students injured. The Democratic Unity Roundtable proposed a possible "mobilization" following a call made by Henrique Capriles due to the "massive violation of human rights" in Venezuela. 14 January – Students in Mérida begin to protest against insecurity as well as food and medicine shortages. Students in San Cristobal, Bolívar protested because of nationwide shortages by blocking streets and burning tires. 15 January – At the University of Los Andes (ULA) in Tachira, Venezuelan authorities and possibly members of colectivos raided the university firing teargas and buckshot at student protesters. Venezuelan authorities broke down doors to enter facilities and fired at students inside of the buildings. At least 25 students were injured from both lead and plastic pellets fired from Venezuelan authorities at the ULA protest, with the injured students being treated by medical students on campus in order to avoid arrests. In Mérida, students protested once again with horns of passing cars heard showing support. 18 January – During the 2015 Vuelta al Táchira circuit, peaceful protesters were confronted by National Guardsmen. 19 January – Active and retired teachers protested in Táchira demanding the resignation of regional board and national administrator of the Venezuelan government's Institute for Social Security and Welfare Staff of the Ministry of Education (IPASME) due to what they call proselytizing and propaganda produced by the institution. 22 January – In Piar, members of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry protested demanding security from the state government, law enforcement agencies and regional authorities. 23 January – Venezuelans across the country gathered with the opposition denouncing inabilities of the Venezuelan government demanding freedom and democracy while commemorating the end of Marcos Pérez Jiménez's dictatorship in Venezuela. Thousands peacefully demonstrated through a march in Mérida, marching over 4 km denouncing Venezuela's economic situation from the University of Los Andes to the Ombudsman's office delivering a document. An hour after the march ended, a separate protest gathered that was confronted by motorcyclists that beat one student and left them shot in the ankle. Clashes also occurred in Mérida between protesters and Venezuelan authorities that resulted in a damaged National Guard vehicle and the use of force on the protesters. The clashes occurred in Mérida after Venezuelan authorities encountered a protest by citizens that was held due to a lack of gas in their homes for nearly 2 weeks. The MUD opposition group called for a nationwide protest called the "March of Empty Pots" for the next day, 24 January. 24 January – Several thousand Venezuelans protested in the "March of Empty Pots" in Caracas against the shortages of products and demanded changes in the Venezuelan government. In Zulia, a march was held from the University of Zulia to the Republic Plaza, where speeches by opposition leaders were held. The protests were smaller than the other organized demonstrations in 2014 since Venezuelans feared a government crackdown or were preoccupied with the product shortages in the country. 25 January – In Chacao, residents protested in the evening under the watch of Venezuelan authorities. 26 January – In Los Teques, students of the College of Los Teques "Cecilio Acosta" (CULTCA) protested which led to the response from the National Guard entering the campus firing tear gas and rubber bullets. 27 January – The Government of Venezuela authorizes the use of lethal force as a "last resort" for protests despite a constitutional ban on the use of toxic weapons or use of firearms. In Mérida, 18 students, including multiple minors, were arrested in the evening for allegedly being part of a protest. 28 January – At the University Rafael Belloso Chacin (Urbe) in Maracaibo, students who were protesting for the release of other students that had been previously arrested were allegedly confronted by both the National Police and colectivos working together. 29 January – After being detained for two days, the 18 students who were arrested in Mérida were released while citizens protested outside of the police station.
February
3 February – Students of the University of Los Andes called for a march to the Public Ministry in Mérida on 12 February, commemorating the deaths of those killed that day one year beforehand and to demand the release of arrested students. 4 February – In Mérida, members of the "Liberation Movement" of the University of Los Andes along with residents protested demanding the resignation of President Maduro. 7 February – In the La Urbina neighborhood of the Sucre municipality, residents began to protest following the murder of a woman during a robbery, with the citizens demanding better police security while stating that four robberies occurred daily in the area. 9 February – Students in San Cristóbal protested demanding a response from PSUV leader and Táchira Governor Jose Vielma Mora who did not respond to a letter delivered to them. 10 February – Three protesting students from the Catholic University of Táchira were injured from bullet wounds in San Cristóbal when the National Police fired at them while they were attempting to hide under vehicles from the police gunfire. Bullet holes were found on vehicles and shell casings were gathered, with the Catholic University of Táchira cancelled classes that day following the shooting. The Student Movement of Guyana announced a march for 12 February with the PSUV Student Movement responding to them by announcing a countermarch to confront the protesters at their march destination while also planning to support the National Guard. 11 February – Táchira governor José Gregorio Vielma Mora announced that Brigadier General Espinal Alexis Fernandez replaced Johnny Campos as National Police chief following the shooting that occurred the previous day of 3 Catholic University of Táchira students. 12 February – In Caracas and San Cristóbal hundreds marched to commemorate the beginning of protests in 2014. Clashes between police and protesters also occurred in both cities leading to injuries and arrests, with protesters throwing rocks and making barricades against police in Caracas and protesters throwing pipes and Molotov cocktails at police after they were confronted during a march in San Cristóbal. Government supporters also held a large demonstration numbered in the thousands in Caracas in support of President Maduro as well as a Youth Day concert in the city in celebration of the holiday. 13 February – According to Jose Vielma Mora, the governor of Tachira state and political ally of President Maduro stated that 11 people were arrested during street demonstrations on 12 February where fourteen National Police officers were injured in an attack. A Tachira court had also ordered two police officers suspected of shooting at a student to be held pending formal charges of attempted homicide and unlawful use of their suspected of their service weapons. Protests occurred near Altamira Plaza on Francisco Miranda Avenue where protesters blocked traffic denouncing the arrests and commemorating the deaths of those killed in the 2014 protests. 14 February – Two protesters were released and one remained detained following the 12 February protests in San Cristóbal. 16 February – The Union of Workers of the Forest Enterprises announced a strike and protest, asking the government to complete promises made by former President Chavez involving upgrades in technology that was not completed that caused a drop in production while also demanding better pay. 19 February – Students near the Catholic University of Táchira protested against the government and some were injured by rounds of buckshot fired at them. 20 February – In Caracas, demonstrations occurred denouncing the arrest of opposition mayor Antonio Ledezma on actions during the protests of the year before 22 February – Clashes occurred between students of the Catholic University of Táchira and Venezuelan authorities after the murders of two students who were bound and shot to death.