Caracas, Mar 21, (RHC), – Thousands of protesters took to social media Friday to demand President Barack Obama rescind a controversial executive order labeling Venezuela a national security threat.

At 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. local time, supporters of the Venezuelan government were called on to mass tweet to #ObamaDerogaElDecretoYa (Obama repeal the decree now) and #ObamaRepealTheExecutiveOrder. Shortly after 11 a.m., the first hashtag was trending worldwide. The bilingual social media campaign is aimed at promoting a global petition against Obama's executive order on Venezuela.

Signed by Obama earlier this month, the executive order describes Venezuela as a “threat” to the United States, and imposed sanctions on several high ranking Venezuelan officials. President Nicolas Maduro has condemned the sanctions as an attack on Venezuela's sovereignty.