Brazil sees largest protests in decades as unrest hits second week
Mass protests continued throughout Brazil on Monday, with hundreds of thousands of demonstrators converging in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, the capital of Brasilia and other cities.
Protests initially began last week following a government
announcement of an increase in public transportation costs, which
brought out students and young workers and led to more than 250
arrests.
According to reports by Brazilian media such as Jornal do Dia,
the initially peaceful demonstrations last week became heated,
and led to clashes with Brazil’s riot police that left at least
100 injured in the major cities of Brasilia, Sao Paulo, Rio de
Janeiro and Belo Horizonte.
Though the protests initially began following the announcement of
bus fare increases, they have evolved to include a wide range of
groups that have grown dissatisfied over everything from
government corruption and income inequality, as well as to
outrage over the police’s harsh response to protesters last week.
In a sign that public dissatisfaction was still simmering, soccer
fans booed president Dilma Rousseff on Monday during the opening
of a two-week tournament at a stadium in the capital Brasilia.
The heckling only intensified when the president of the global
soccer body, FIFA, reprimanded the crowed for failing to show the
president “respect.”
Though Rousseff was able to ride on her predecessor's popularity,
Brazil’s economic growth has slowed considerably since she took
over from Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is widely credited with
lifting 40 million Brazilians out of poverty. Brazil’s economy
has posted its worst two-year performance in over a decade, and
inflation rose to 6.5 per cent in May.
At least 20,000 Brazilians were expected to demonstrate in Sao
Paulo on Monday, with organizers placing the figure closer to
30,000.
O Rio de Janeiro continua lindo! #Brazil Social Protests. Photo Joao Pedro Sa. pic.twitter.com/w1aspthiO8
— Patricia G. Ferreira (@Pat_Galvao) June 17, 2013
#Breaking: Protesters have climbed atop the capitol building in Brazil. #ChangeBrazilpic.twitter.com/Tb6CblQ5T0
— Occupy Congress (@OCongress) June 18, 2013
