It's No Joke: Venezuela Cracks Down On Comedians

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http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2015/05/05/404443837/its-no-joke-venezuela-cracks-down-on-comedians?sc=tw

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That message doesn't sit well with Venezuela's president, Nicolas Maduro. Besides jailing opposition leaders and cracking down on protesters, the Maduro government is now going after comics.

Marquez says that three of his recent shows were canceled after all three clubs that booked him were suddenly closed down for alleged tax evasion. He's also been shut out of government-run theaters and hotels.

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Even when Goncalves is allowed to perform, there can be trouble. After one show, he was chased out of town by government supporters.

"We have to run to the car and go, like criminals, because these people have no sense of humor," he says. "And that's very sad."

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