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Snopes: Police arrested protester during interview about US action in Venezuela. Here's context
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/venezuela-protester-arrested-grand-rapids/Police arrested protester during interview about US action in Venezuela. Here's context
Jessica Plichta, 22, reportedly said she was one of 200 people who marched in Grand Rapids on Jan. 3, 2026.
Laerke Christensen
Published Jan. 6, 2026
Claim: Police in Grand Rapids, Michigan, arrested a protester during a TV interview for speaking out against U.S. action in Venezuela.
Rating: Mixture
What's True
An ABC affiliate channel in Michigan reported that officers arrested the woman, Jessica Plichta, "immediately after" her interview with the channel on Jan. 3, 2026, and published footage on YouTube that showed her arrest.
What's Undetermined
A spokesperson for Grand Rapids Police Department said in a statement that officers identified Plichta as a member of a group of protesters who "refused lawful orders" to move a march from the road to the sidewalk. According to the statement, Plichta's arrest was not related to her views on Venezuela but rather to her behavior during the protest that took place before the interview. Snopes was not able to view booking charges for Plichta to see whether they reflected this statement, nor could we find evidence of any formal charges against her at the time of this writing.
Jessica Plichta, 22, reportedly said she was one of 200 people who marched in Grand Rapids on Jan. 3, 2026.
Laerke Christensen
Published Jan. 6, 2026
Claim: Police in Grand Rapids, Michigan, arrested a protester during a TV interview for speaking out against U.S. action in Venezuela.
Rating: Mixture
What's True
An ABC affiliate channel in Michigan reported that officers arrested the woman, Jessica Plichta, "immediately after" her interview with the channel on Jan. 3, 2026, and published footage on YouTube that showed her arrest.
What's Undetermined
A spokesperson for Grand Rapids Police Department said in a statement that officers identified Plichta as a member of a group of protesters who "refused lawful orders" to move a march from the road to the sidewalk. According to the statement, Plichta's arrest was not related to her views on Venezuela but rather to her behavior during the protest that took place before the interview. Snopes was not able to view booking charges for Plichta to see whether they reflected this statement, nor could we find evidence of any formal charges against her at the time of this writing.
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