Images of Today's Protests in Venezuela

President Maduro attempted to dampen protests his week by extending the Carnival holiday to include Thursday and Friday. But thousands of protesters went into the streets anyway. What follows are some images that appeared on Twitter today:

Anti-government demonstrators protest in eastern Caracas, Venezuela, by @jbarreto1974 pic.twitter.com/J5xKra7nUc

— Agence France-Presse (@AFP) February 27, 2014

Protesters unfurl a giant #Venezuela flag Thursday in Puerto Ordaz. pic.twitter.com/4a9mVsJPA4 via @Myfiress

— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) February 27, 2014

One of the main tactics that has been employed by protesters is to blockade streets. Today the police used heavy amounts of tear gas to keep the streets clear.

#Venezuela: Tear gas today in upper middle class neighborhood Las Mercedes during student rally via @GerardoBlyde pic.twitter.com/JSeC0aFLHC

— Mariana_Atencio (@marianaatencio) February 27, 2014

A demonstrator throws stones at riot police during an anti-government protest in Caracas, Venezuela, by @jbarreto1974 pic.twitter.com/K7lgd2Mj4i

— Agence France-Presse (@AFP) February 27, 2014

The caption says that’s a stone but it looks like a gas canister. Some protesters had homemade gas masks.

A woman wears a makeshift gas mask as anti-government demonstrators protest in Caracas, Venezuela, by @jbarreto1974 pic.twitter.com/BhfTL1B0As

— Agence France-Presse (@AFP) February 27, 2014

Student protesters dispersed with tear gas in #Caracas, #Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/0IvD1ILFVx via @veneguate

— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) February 27, 2014

Demonstrators clash with riot police during an anti-government protest in Caracas, Venezuela, by @jbarreto1974 pic.twitter.com/RY8yyDDfEQ

— Agence France-Presse (@AFP) February 27, 2014