“A violinist who became the young face of anti-government protests in Venezuela may soon seek political asylum in the United States,” writes Claudia Torrens in Tuesday’s (9/20) Associated Press. “Wuilly Arteaga became well-known after playing somber renditions of Venezuela’s national anthem while standing amid clouds of tear gas. During one clash with security forces earlier this year, he and his violin were dragged to the ground and he was later thrown in jail…. Now free, he performed Tuesday at Lincoln Center in New York at an event to draw attention to human rights abuses in Venezuela. The 23-year-old said his priority is to find work in the U.S. rather than request asylum. But he said he doesn’t feel safe returning home because of death threats he’s received…. Arteaga first picked up the violin growing up in the city of Valencia and was a member of Venezuela’s world-famous El Sistema network of youth orchestras and music schools…. About four years ago he moved to Caracas, busking for his meals…. He arrived in New York on Sunday…. He’s living now at a hotel paid for by the sponsors of Tuesday’s event but says he’ll soon have to start looking for work.”
Posted September 20, 2017
