General strike turns into violence as two protesters were killed!!!

For more than two years, Venezuela has struggled with a massive economic collapse that has triggered acute food shortages, a lack of medical care and rampant inflation. NPR's Planet Money calls the disaster, caused by government decisions and triggered by a drop in oil prices, an "economic horror story." A political crisis soon followed. Protesters called for the resignation of Maduro, who is now deeply unpopular. But instead of stepping down, Maduro accumulated more and more power.

Empty streets, makeshift barricades, burning tires, signs scrawled with "No to dictatorship": Protests continue on the streets of Venezuela as a 24-hour general strike takes hold, the latest development in an ongoing political and economic crisis. Some citizens are trying to go to work despite the shutdown of public transportation; others are taking to blockaded streets in protest. There is widespread fear of more bloodshed after months of conflict and dozens of deaths.

The head of the Organization of American States says the government is "violently repressing demonstrations" and warns that there's no sign of an end to the crisis. Venezuela's opposition called the strike to protest President Nicolas Maduro's plan to rewrite the constitution and strengthen his party's power.

In late March, the Venezuelan Supreme Court dissolved the Parliament and transferred all legislative powers to itself. The opposition claimed Maduro was creating a dictatorship. The decision was reversed three days later, but it triggered a series of bloody street protests that have lasted for months. Wednesday's strike is not the first of its kind in Venezuela. Last week, millions voted in a nonbinding referendum to reject Maduro's controversial plan but the government condemned the poll as illegal.

The decision was followed by a 24-hour strike that turned violent. A day in the life of Venezuelans: Anything but normal Now, both sides are rallying support for ahead of the July 30 vote.Hours before the strike began, opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez urged Venezuelans to keep up protests in a 15-minute video posted online. Lopez called Maduro and his supporters a "very clear threat," saying their goal is to undermine democracy and achieve the "absolute submission of the Venezuelan people."

Lopez, the former mayor of a Caracas district with ambitions for the presidency, was released from prison to house arrest earlier this month. He had been detained since early 2014 over accusations of inciting anti-government protests.