CARACAS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelans have fallen victim to U.S. sanctions, Venezuelan Education Minister Hector Rodriguez said Thursday at a rally in Monagas state.

"We have all been victims of the sanctions," Rodriguez said during the "Great National Pilgrimage" rallies convened by acting president Delcy Rodriguez to demand an end to the sanctions and advocate for peace.

"The vast majority of Venezuelans do not want to continue in a useless confrontation," the minister said, calling on the country's social and political groups to unite in demanding the sanctions be lifted.

He noted that oil-sector sanctions have cut crude export revenues, adding that "the ingenuity of the Venezuelan people" has helped the country overcome the hardest times.

"We've moved past that critical point of empty shelves and minimal income," he said.

The "Great National Pilgrimage" was launched on April 19 across Venezuela and will conclude on May 1 with a rally in Caracas.