Thousands of opposition protesters, led by Venezuela’s self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido, on Wednesday called on the armed forces to abandon President Nicolas Maduro and allow humanitarian aid into the crisis-wracked country. People took to the streets in the capital Caracas and various other cities, banging pots, blowing whistles and horns, and carrying banners that read: “Armed forces, regain your dignity,” “Maduro usurper,” “Guaido, president” and “No to the dictatorship.” “Don’t shoot people who are making demands also for your family,” Guaido said in a message to the military delivered from the central university in Caracas.

He also wrote in a New York Times op-ed published Wednesday that the support of the military was key to efforts to oust Maduro, saying secret meetings had been held with members of the security forces.