Not even the Carnival holiday stops thousands from protesting in Venezuela.

Instead, demonstrators brought the holiday's festive colors with them to the streets of Caracas, demanding change.

(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PROTESTER ROBERTO TEXEIRA SAYING:

"We're protesting because we want the same Venezuela from 15 years ago. We lost our liberty. The youth can't enjoy being out in the streets. We can't go skating. We can't go out anymore because the crime is doing us in."

Protests against President Nicolas Maduro have been ongoing for nearly a month.

Grievances include what they call heavy-handed repression, high inflation, a shocking rate of violent crime and basic food shortages.

(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PROTESTER VANESA CAMPOVERDE SAYING:

"I am coming here to protest because I just simply feel the need to. And it's not just me but rather all Venezuelans. We need a future, we need to study because the truth is that there are no jobs and that isn't possib