Brazil is the scene of record breaking rallies with over 1mn people across 100 cities demonstrating their discontent with the government. Two people have been killed in the protests and dozens injured, despite reforms promised by the country’s president.
12:30 GMT: Over a quarter of a million people took to the
streets across Brazil to protest government corruption. A new
poll shows that 75 per cent of Brazilians support the
demonstrations.
In the cities of Belo Horizonte and Salvador the protests turned
violent as activists clashed with police.
The vast majority of the demonstrations, however, have been
peaceful.
00:50 GMT: Five people arrested in Belo Horizonte during
the rally that blocked off streets in the city as rioters looted
the center. Several shops were vandalized and signposts and
traffic lights damaged. Police moved in to stop the
unrest.
00:25 GMT: So far protests have been held in 107 cities
across the country with 286,600 people taking part in
demonstrations, according to police estimates.
00:13 GMT: About 3,000 people are rallying in front the National Congress in Brasilia demanding the resignation of several MPs.
Sunday, June 23
23:59 GMT: Salvador police have detained a suspect carrying several Molotov cocktails, a gas mask, rubber gloves and a note threatening to kill Governor Jaques Wagner. In another note there were statements about President Dilma and references to the “revolution.”
23:16 GMT: A group of protesters peacefully rally in front of the governor’s house in Rio de Janeiro, demanding better public services. The area remains calm and protesters are even offering food to the policemen guarding the property.
23:07 GMT: Police estimate that at least 35,000 people
have taken part in a number of marches all across Sao Paolo on
Saturday.
22:46 GMT: Fifteen people have been injured in clashes in
Belo Horizonte, police spokesman Colonel Márcio Santana said.
Four of those injured were police officers. Authorities were not
using excessive force, the spokesman stressed, explaining that
there was a group of provocateurs among the crowd while the
majority of protesters were rallying peacefully. He has called on
protesters to reunite with their families and go home
peacefully.
22:21 GMT: A major shopping mall Iguatemi has closed its
doors in Salvador with clashes taking place right in front of it.
Meanwhile at least six bus stops have been vandalized across
Bahia state.
22:05 GMT: A video allegedly showing the moment police used tear gas against the crowd near the Pampulha Airport in Belo Horizonte after a group of protesters tried to breach police cordon.
22:01 GMT: Police in Belo Horizonte have used rubber bullets to disperse a crowd of violent protesters at the front of the march. After the rioters fled, a representative of the military police force reportedly addressed the remaining crowd of peaceful protesters.
21:40 GMT: Firefighters have been deployed to an area near
the Pampulha Airport in Belo Horizonte, where protesters have set
at least one vehicle on fire.
21:21 GMT: Mounted police deployed to the scene of clashes
in Belo Horizonte are trying to disperse protesters, Globo
reports.
21:16 GMT: A protester has fallen from the overpass over Abraão Caram avenue in Belo Horizonte reportedly suffering numerous fractures.
21:09 GMT:
TR @BennyCohen10 elderly man injured in Belo Horizonte protest #protestoBH. http://t.co/dnglPVBcTu … pic.twitter.com/SlOQp28Tah
— David Ferreira (@Igualitarista) June 22, 2013
21:03 GMT: The situation is reportedly getting out of control in Belo Horizonte, Globo reporter says. Protesters are setting fires and clashing with police. At least three demonstrators and four protesters have been injured so far. The Risoleta Neves hospital confirmed receiving a young woman with a head injury.
20:54 GMT: A march has been dispersed in Vale dos Barris
avenue in Salvador. At least three people have been arrested for
misbehavior, including public urination, confrontation with
police and an attempt to break into a store, Globo
reports.
20:29 GMT: At least 4,000 demonstrators are marching peacefully in the center of Sao Paulo, according to police estimates.
20:14 GMT: Military police have dispersed a group of violent rock throwing protesters near the Mineirinho Arena in Belo Horizonte. The situation seems under control as the vast majority of the 65,000 protesters rally peacefully, Globo reports.
There were no reports of injuries among the protesters, but one police officer has reportedly suffered an eye injury.
19:42 GMT: Some 5000 protesters gathered 5 killomers away from the stadium in the northeastern city of Salvador, where the national football squad played Italy in a match for the Confederations Cup. The crowd demanded better schools and transportation and criticized spending on next year's World Cup.
19:15 GMT:
globo with an impressive aerial of the march in Belo Horizonte on its way to stadium hosting confederations cup pic.twitter.com/UZWVc70FUf
— David Ferreira (@Igualitarista) June 22, 2013
19:14 GMT: Up to 20,000 protesters in Belo Horizonte are marching to the stadium where the game between Japan and Mexico is being hosted.
19:05 GMT: Some 30,000 people protested in the streets of
the town of Santa Maria, in the southern Brazilian state of Rio
Grande do Sul.
18:31 GMT: New rallies kick off in Sao Paulo and 60 other
cities across Brazil, reports RT en Espanol.
AHORA: Comienzan las manifestaciones en Av Paulista #SaoPaulo . Unas 60 ciudades registran protestas pic.twitter.com/IgA0BKCE5E
— Ignacio Jubilla (@Ignacio_RT) June 22, 2013
16:26 GMT: The Brazilian Government has called in the
military to help police monitor and ensure safety in tonight’s
game with Italy in Salvador de Bahia as protests continue to
spread. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff tried to calm the
protests via a televised address, promising new plans for public
transport, the health care system and pumping oil royalties into
education.
Saturday, June 22
23:57 GMT: Unconfirmed reports of looting on the outskirts
of Sao Paulo.
23:22 GMT: Protesters have reportedly blocked eight roads in
Sao Paulo.
23:10 GMT: Thousands of people have taken to the
streets in the city of Guarulhos, Sao Paulo state. Protesters are
calling for a peaceful rally and urge to avoid any
violence.
22:35 GMT: FIFA confirms that the 2014 World Cup is not at
risk, as protesters continue to reject the championship.
22:30 GMT: In several Brazilian cities some violent groups
were reportedly looting shops and causing havoc during the new
round of mass protests.
02:30 GMT: Now that the trigger event, the hike in prices for public transportation, have been reversed, RT spoke with Brazilian journalist Mauricio Saverese.
“Transport fares were pretty much tackled on Wednesday. Now that the main issue is resolved, most people are now doing some soul searching, wondering whether they should join the next protests,” says Saverese, adding that increased violence could also turn off mass participation.
“It is not exactly about the economy, because Brazil is
living through pretty much full employment. It’s not doing that
terribly compared to European countries ... To me, it’s a
beginning of a struggle for a bigger role of the middle class in
Brazil’s political life,” he adds.
17.00 GMT: Cleonice Vieira de Moraes, 54 who was
hospitalized over tear gas inhalation during a protest on
Thursday has died in hospital.
10:52 GMT: FIFA says it has no intention of cancelling
the Confederations Cup in Brazil because of the mass protests.
Previously, the Brazilian press had reported that some teams,
including the Italians, were considering withdrawing from the
tournament.
05:36 GMT: Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff called an
emergency Cabinet meeting Friday morning following a day of mass
protests across the country. She was also forced to cancel a trip
to Japan planned for next week.
02:03 GMT: 41 injured people have been admitted to Souza
Aguiar hospital in Rio de Janeiro following clashes, hospital
officials say.
01:10 GMT: One person has been killed and three more
injured after they were hit by a car in the town of Ribeirao
Preto, Sao Paulo state. Witnesses say that the car tried to break
a human chain created by protesters. Apparently outraged because
he was being blocked, the driver accelerated the vehicle and ran
over the four.
00:23 GMT: Protesters in the city of Fortaleza broke
through a police line and entered the Palace of Abolition, the
seat of government of Ceará state.
00:06 GMT: At least 28 people have been injured in clashes with police in Rio de Janeiro. Most of the wounded were hit by rubber bullets, pepper spray and stones, officials at the Souza Aguiar hospital said.
Friday, June 21
23:47 GMT: In the city of Porto Alegre military police used a helicopter and tear gas to disperse protesters that approached the headquarters of RBS Group, a media conglomerate that publishes numerous newspapers along with radio and television stations.
23:20 GMT:
meanwhile in Brasilia.... pic.twitter.com/8Qz1xqr0r1
— David Ferreira (@Igualitarista) June 20, 2013
23:13 GMT: Riot police in the capital Brasilia have
prevented a group of protesters from breaking through the police
cordon towards the Congress.
More than 20,000 are rallying in front of the Congress in the capital, Brasilia. Some 3,500 police officers were deployed to the area to respond, with clashes erupting after a group of protesters reportedly started throwing Molotov cocktails and attempted to break through the police cordon. Officers responded with tear gas.
22:45 GMT: Police fired large rounds of tear gas against
protesters in the city of Campinas in Sao Paulo state in a
confrontation adjacent to government buildings.
A Globo TV correspondent reported a tense situation as
demonstrators faced off against riot gear-clad officer
@MarceloTas Protesto em Campinas/SP ;) pic.twitter.com/Nkn8BdEoaA
— andreza (@andreza_c_lopes) June 20, 2013
22:03 GMT: Police in Rio de Janeiro have already resorted to tear gas early Thursday evening to disperse a crowd making its way to city hall. Plumes of smoke could be seen on video broadcast by local TV.
Authorities in Brazil's cultural capital expect as many as a
million protesters to converge on the city, despite recent
announcements by state governments to scrap plans to increase
public transportation costs. Protesters intended to march on
Maracana Stadium just as a Confederations cup football game was
to kick off.
A PICTURE IS WORTH MORE THAN A THOUSAND WORDS MANISFETACION BRAZIL pic.twitter.com/xnveDODLGN
— Patrícia Mendes (@pattychokito) June 20, 2013
21:32 GMT: A huge demonstration is currently taking place in the Candelaria neighborhood of downtown Rio de Janeiro. At least 300,000 people have marched towards town hall, according to estimates by the police, who expect as many as a million protesters to gather later in the day.
19:36 GMT: Rio de Janeiro authorities have ramped up
police strength with an estimated 8,000 officers to be deployed
to handle the demonstration the city’s center and security for
the Spanish and Tahiti football teams. Some 1,200 riot police,
armed with teargas and rubber bullets, will remain in barracks
unless the protest turns violent. The increase comes after the
authorities admitted they underestimated the scale of Monday's
march, when only 150 officers were on duty to withstand a crowd
of more than 100,000.
15:00 GMT: Leaders in two of Brazil's largest cities
reversed hikes in bus and subway fares that fueled the protests.
Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro both stepped down. "This will
represent a big sacrifice and we will have to reduce investments
in other areas," said the Mayor of Sao Paulo, Mayor Fernando
Haddad.
However, protests are still planned for Thursday in both cities.
Protest organizers have called for demonstrations as people
continue to express discontent with broader-scale corruption.
Their frustrations are intensified by high taxes and poor public
services.
12:05 GMT: Brazilian football legend Pele has called upon the
protesters to leave the streets and focus on football, as Brazil
is currently hosting the Confederations Cup, the country’s main
tournament before next year’s FIFA World Cup.
"Let's forget all this commotion happening in Brazil, all
these protests, and let's remember how the Brazilian squad is our
country and our blood," Pele was quoted as saying by TV
network O Globo.
Social media users were less than thrilled by the comments, with
many suggesting that the wealthy sporting great simply has no
idea how ordinary Brazilians live.
00:30 GMT: In a video posted online, an on-duty riot
police officer is described by Brazilian television as having
been dismissed from his post by a superior after refusing to
comply with orders.
The superior is clearly agitated after the second officer
hesitates after being asked to use a police vehicle to block
protesters’ path, and he removes his weapon and dismisses him.
Thursday, June 20
22:30
GMT: A video of Brazilian police officers sitting down with
demonstrators in Sao Paulo during the mass protest earlier this
week has gone viral.
21:25
GMT: The cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are to roll
back transport fare hikes in response to the widespread
demonstrations, according to officials cited both by AFP and
Reuters. The day prior several smaller municipalities had made
similar announcements, though today’s news is significant as Sao
Paulo is the country’s largest city, with some eleven million
residents. Together with Rio, it had been the focal point the
mass protests this week and last week.
Starting next Monday, fares for metro, train and buses will be
reverted back to $1.50 from $1.60, says Sao Paulo State Governor
Geraldo Alckmin. In Rio, bus fares will go back to $1.37 from the
recently announced $1.47, according to mayor Eduardo Paes.
19:30
GMT: Hackers replaced a Brazil World Cup Website
(http://copaemcuiaba.com.br) with a popular Youtube video that
urges people not to come to the country to watch the World Cup,
as well as a montage of alleged police brutality at the protests.
The unknown hackers also edited the title of the website with
“Nao Venha Pata a Copa No
Brasil. Do not come to Brasil for the world cup.” That is
a sentiment that has made its way onto signs and chants used by
demonstrators throughout Brazil, who see the link between the
vast sums spent on preparations for the World Cup and the
inability of the state to provide better social benefits as a
symptom of corruption.
16:48
GMT: At least two demonstrators are reported to be injured in
clashes with police near the stadium in the Brazilian city of
Fortaleza on Wednesday.
At least 30,000 protesters threw stones at security forces, who
responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. One person suffered
an eye injury and another was taken away on a stretcher.
The protesters were marching against government spending on the
World Cup and the Olympics. Brazil was to play a Confederations
Cup match with Mexico later in the stadium, which went on as
scheduled after protests were dispersed.
During the protest at Fortaleza demonstrators carried banners
reading "a teacher is worth
more than Neymar," a reference to one of Brazil's star
players slated to appear in Wednesday’s game.
06:50 GMT: The Brazilian government to deploy National Public Security Force in five cities hosting the FIFA football tournament in an effort to contain the ongoing protests across the country.
05:01 GMT: Hundreds of Brazilians living in Canada took to the streets on Tuesday in Vancouver to show their support for the wave of protests in Brazil.
05:00 GMT: Protests continue in Brazil, with 50,000 people flooding Cathedral Square and other main streets in Sao Paulo on Tuesday night. Many expressed their discontent with the entire government, chanting ''No parties!''
04:52 GMT: Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff tries to defuse tensions in a televised speech by praising the protesters, saying that the demonstrations were legitimate and that the government was committed to social change.
02:50 GMT: Sao Paulo
continued to be the focal point of protests on Tuesday night,
with smaller demonstrations seen in the thousands in Rio de
Janeiro as well as Belo Horizonte and smaller cities around the
country.
In the country’s largest city there were reports of looting and
vandalism inflicted on several bank branches. Local media
meanwhile had sporadic reports of individuals in Sao Paulo
hauling electronics and home appliances out of shattered store
fronts, as well as stealing watches, jewelry and mobile phones.
Aside from a tense moment when demonstrators attempted to breach
city hall, however, the situation seemed more subdued than the
day prior. Some fifty individuals were reportedly arrested in
that city while police continued to comb through downtown.
01:30 GMT: Police are attempting to disperse tens of
thousands of protesters converged on Avenida Paulista, the main
drag in Sao Paulo, using tear gas.
In Rio, 7,500 members of the armed forces are on standby to be
deployed if the protests cannot be contained.
Wednesday, June 19
23:20 GMT: Minas Gerais governor Antonio Anastasia
requested the support of Brazil’s National Security Force
(national guard) to help contain ongoing protests in the regional
capital of Belo Horizonte. According to a spokesperson, 150
federal police had arrived to the city.
The city, like many others throughout Brazil, is in its third day
of demonstrations. On Monday, military police fired tear gas and
rubber bullets as protesters attempted to break a blockade.
23:00 GMT: There have been reports of some property damage. Demonstrators attacked a Banco Itaú branch and destroyed several ATM machines, though there was no indication of looting, according to Folha de S.Paulo. There were other reports of stores being vandalized, though they appeared to be isolated events.
21:50 GMT: In response to protests, several municipalities
in Brazil have announced plans to lower public transportation
fares. The cities of Porto Alegre, Cuiaba, Recife and Joao Pessoa
all say they will reduce bus fare by 2 cents to 5 cents.
Meanwhile, the mayor of Sao Paulo, Fernando Haddad, said he might
also be willing to consider such a reduction.
21:35 GMT: In an address from the presidential palace on
Tuesday, president Rousseff expressed sympathy with the
demonstrators.
"These voices need to be
heard," Rousseff said.
"My government is listening to
these voices for change. My government is committed to social
transformation," she added.
21:10 GMT: Demonstrators have completely overtaken Avenida
Paulista, one of São Paulo's major arteries. Municipal police
reportedly used pepper spray to thwart a smaller subset described
as "radical" which tried to storm city hall. Other groups of
demonstrators reportedly chanted for peaceful protest and against
any vandalism (lower video).
20:02 GMT: Some ten thousand demonstrators are already
gathered in downtown São Paulo, with a large portion of the group
marching towards city hall. No major clashes have so far been
reported and the crowd appeared peaceful despite large numbers.
13:02 GMT: The demonstrations were initially
triggered by a 10-cent hike in bus fare, bringing the price to
the equivalent of $1.60, and fueled by 6.5 percent inflation, as
well as other economic problems. Afterwards, the people started
taking to the streets to protest against government corruption
and income inequality, as well as in outrage over the police’s
harsh response to protesters last week.
12:40 GMT: Military Police (MP) in Sao Paulo are keeping a
close watch on the area occupied by the protesters.
12:32 GMT: About 50 protesters spent the early hours of
Tuesday in front of Bandeirantes Palace, where the government of
Sao Paulo is headquartered. The Palace is situated in Morumbi, in
the south of the state capital. The situation remained tense
throughout the night.
02:00 GMT Central Sao Paulo was filled with protesters
last night. Here, a resident captures the bustling scene on
video.