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2013 protests in Brazil

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2013 protests in Brazil
Protesters on Congresso Nacional, "The House of the People" in Brasília, June 17.
DateEarly June 2013 – present
Location
• Brazil: Natal, Porto Alegre, Goiânia, São Paulo, Campinas, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Recife, Fortaleza, Belém, São Gonçalo, Rio Branco, São Luís, Teresina, Vitória, Maceió, Salvador, Campo Grande, Cuiabá, Macapá, Ribeirão Preto, Nova Iguaçu, Itajaí, Marília, Duque de Caxias, among others
• International: cities with Brazilian diasporas around the globe
Caused by• Increases in bus, train and metro fare in some major cities
• Multiple issues regarding infrastructure, education and health care among other public services
• High cost of living
• Increasing government funding of major sports events
• Feeling of alienation from government decisions
• Police brutality
• Multiple scandals of corruption, embezzlement and overbilling in the government
• Multiple reports of abuse of special benefits conceded to Brazilian politicians
• Controversial law in discussion by National Chamber's plans limiting the powers of the Public Ministry to investigate criminal activities in the government, among other reasons
Goals• Improvements in public transport with less cost to the population
• Increase of government effort and funds to improve other key services including public education, national health care and transport infrastructure altogether
• Less priority to fund major sports events
MethodsDemonstrations, protest marches, online activism
StatusOngoing
Number
2 million[1]
300,000 in Rio de Janeiro
100,000 in São Paulo
100,000 in Manaus
52,000 in Recife
45,000 in Florianópolis
30,000 in Brasília, Cuiabá and Campo Grande
20,000 in Belo Horizonte, Salvador and Porto Alegre
Casualties
Death(s)2[2]
Injuries159[3]
Arrested431[3]

The 2013 protests in Brazil (also known as the V for Vinegar Movement,[4] Salad Revolt, Vinegar Revolt, and Brazilian Spring) are ongoing public demonstrations in several Brazilian cities, initiated mainly by the Movimento Passe Livre (Free Fare Movement), a local entity that advocates for free public transportation. The demonstrations were initially organized to protest increases in bus, train, and metro ticket prices in some Brazilian cities,[5][6][7][8] but came to include other subjects such as police brutality used against some demonstrators.[9][10] By mid-June, the movement had grown to become Brazil's largest since the 1992 protests against then-President Fernando Collor de Mello.[11] As with the recent 2013 protests in Turkey, social media has played an important role in the organization of public outcries and in keeping protesters in touch with one another.[12]

Name

Most well-known urban riots in Brazil have been traditionally named in the format of 'Revolt of [Something]'. A prime example of this was Rio de Janeiro's Revolta da Vacina in the early 20th century. In similar fashion, the protests, especially those in São Paulo, were named [Revolta da Salada] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) (Template:IPA-pt), [Revolta do Vinagre] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) (Template:IPA-pt) or [Movimento V de Vinagre] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) (Template:IPA-pt) after more than 60 protesters were arrested for carrying vinegar as a means of protection against tear gas and pepper spray used by police.[13][14][15] Piero Locatelli, a journalist for the CartaCapital magazine, was arrested and taken to the Civil Police after being found with a bottle of vinegar.[16] The sarcastic tone dubbing the protests [Marcha do Vinagre] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) i.e. "march for [the legalization of] vinegar",[17] was a reference to the popularity of an earlier grassroots march for legalizing marijuana named Marcha da Maconha (the Brazilian version of the Global Marijuana March).

Another popular name for the protests is [Outono Brasileiro] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) ("Brazilian Autumn", in a playful reference to the events of the Arab Spring).[18][19] [Primavera] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) (meaning "Spring") is also being used by media.[20]

Background

An agent of Military Police of São Paulo State firing rubber bullets at protesters

The first demonstrations took place in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte during August–September 2012 and were informally called "[Revolta do Busão] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)" (Bus Rebellion). Protesters convinced the local city hall to reduce the fare price.[21] Similar protests were carried out in Porto Alegre in March 2013, where protesters also convinced the local city hall to reduce the fare price.[22]

In Goiânia, demonstrations started on May 16, before the prices were officially raised on May 22 from R$2.70 to R$3.00.[23] The peak of those demonstrations was on May 28, at Bíblia Square, when four buses were destroyed, two were incinerated and two were stoned.[23] 24 students were arrested for vandalism and disobedience.[23] Another demonstration took place on June 6, when students closed streets in downtown Goiânia, set fire to car tires, threw homemade bombs, and broke windows of police cars.[23] On June 13, the fares were brought back to their previous price when judge Fernando de Mello Xavier issued a preliminary injunction arguing that local bus companies were exempted from paying some taxes as of June 1, but the passengers were not benefiting from this exemption.[23]

People protesting in the streets of Rio de Janeiro. The sign reads "Se a passagem não baixar, o Rio vai parar!", which translates to "If the ticket (price) doesn't drop, Rio is going to stop!"

In São Paulo, the demonstrations started when the local city hall and the government of the State of São Paulo (which runs the train and metro system of São Paulo) announced the raise of ticket prices from R$3.00 to R$3.20.[24] The previous hike of bus fares occurred in January 2011,[25] and was also subject to demonstrations.[26] Train and metro fares had been raised to the same price in February 2012.[27] In early 2013, just after becoming mayor of the city, Fernando Haddad announced that fares would increase in the first semester of 2013.[28] In May, the federal government announced that public transportation would be exempted from paying PIS and COFINS, two taxes of Brazil, so that the increase of public transportation costs would not contribute to ongoing inflation.[29] Even so, the fares were raised from R$3.00 to R$3.20, starting on June 2, sparking demonstrations.[24]

Demands of protesters

File:Idosa presente na manifestação em Belo Horizonte.jpg
An elderly going to protest in Belo Horizonte.

Although the bus fare increase was the tipping point for launching demonstrations, the basis for public disenchantment with the policies of the ruling class goes far deeper, particularly the general population's disappointment with the inadequate provision of social services in Brazil,[30] while mega sports projects such as the 2013 Confederations Cup and the 2014 World Cup (to which Brazil has already spent over 7 billion reais and with total expected cost of over 32 billion reais, equivalent to three times South Africa's total in 2010, despite only half the stadiums being finished),[4] as well as the 2016 Summer Olympics, have turned out to be over-budget, and have resulted in a series of revelations about gross overbillings and multi-billion dollar financial scandals.[31] The occurrence of these protests simultaneously with Confederations Cup matches, with sounds of police weapons being audible during the Uruguay vs. Nigeria match on Thursday June 20, have raised serious questions amongst other sporting nations about the capability of Brazil to host the main event in a year's time, based upon its ostensibly severe social problems.[32] Other points of discontent are the high inflation rates and increases in the prices of basic consumer goods, including food,[33][34][35][36][37] that, as many other things in Brazil, are heavily taxed (at 27%).[38]

File:Cabine quebrada - Praça Sete.jpg
Police box vandalized by protesters in Belo Horizonte.

Other commonly stated reasons for the malaise include high taxes (tax revenues total 36% of GDP, highest in the developing world) that do not benefit the poor.[4] The average Brazilian citizen is estimated to pay 40.5% of their income in taxes,[39] yet various social and infrastructural problems such as poorly functioning health services, low education rates,[40][41] inadequate welfare benefits, growing but still low rates of formal, generally better paid, and employment.[42] .

There is also a feeling of powerlessness due to widespread cases of corruption and embezzlement, lack of transparency, and financial accountability. Indicted leaders and politicians would often stay in power despite being cited for corruption and collusion in the growing overbilling scandals. The protesters are particularly objecting to a constitutional amendment currently being drafted – known as PEC 37 – seen as a cover up for corrupt politicians, and a reduction of the power of judiciary in pursuing cases.[33] Though not being a main cause for the demonstrations, some individual and group protestors also object to socially conservative legislation by the religious benches that are seen as a retrocess to Brazil's LGBT and women's rights, a threat to the state of Brazilian secularism,[43][44][45][46][47] and even freedom of expression.[48]

Timeline

June 1 to 14

In June 2013, a series of protests in the Brazilian city of São Paulo were organized against bus and metro fare hikes announced by the city mayor Fernando Haddad in January 2013, who stated that the fares would rise from R$ 3.00 to R$ 3.20, and this would go into effect on June 1.[49]

The first large protest was held on June 6 on Paulista Avenue.[50] In ensuing and growing protests, news reports mentioned that police "lost control" on June 13, with the use of rubber bullets against protesters and even journalists covering the events. Numerous civil rights groups have criticized the harsh police response, including Amnesty International[9] and the Associação Nacional de Jornais.[10]

June 17 to 18

Brazilians students protest in Salamanca (Spain)

An estimated 250,000 protesters took to the streets of various cities on June 17. The largest protests were organized in Rio de Janeiro, where 100,000 attended from mid-afternoon of June 17 to late dawn of June 18.[11] Although mostly peaceful, the protests accelerated with the invasion the State's Legislative Chamber, causing riot police to be called in. Three protesters were injured by gunfire, reportedly by police forces, while ten others were hospitalized.[51] State government authorities did not intervene, saying this was an issue for the Military Police.[52] Other protests erupted in support of those being detained by police. Demonstrations were held in a number of cities.[11] The ones held in Curitiba were reported attended by over 10,000 people.[53]

Minor protests staged by Brazilians living abroad were held in several countries including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States, among others.[54]

June 19

Protests continued on a lesser scale. Mayors of several Brazilian cities announced reduction of bus fares or cancellation of previously announced increases, including Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo where the largest protests had occurred. [55]

June 20

Protests in over 100 cities around the country rallied over 2 million people.[56] Special measures were taken to protect main government buildings on major cities like the federal capital Brasília, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Goiânia, Porto Alegre, Florianópolis, Manaus and Belo Horizonte among others.[57]

June 21

Protests across Brazil have drawn millions to the streets in a wave of rolling fury that has built into the biggest demonstrations for decades in the country. A man was also killed during the protest when a driver ploughed through a peaceful demonstration that also injured 11 other people.[58]

References

  1. ^ "Brazil protests: president to hold emergency meeting". The Guardian. June 21, 2013.
  2. ^ "Sobe para 2 o número de mortos em protestos no Brasil". Terra Notícias (in Portuguese). 21 June 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  3. ^ a b Mallén, Patricia Rey (17 June 2013). "Brazil's Protests Get More Violent, Reach Brasilia And Threaten The Confederation Soccer Cup". International Business Times. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  4. ^ a b c Protests in Brazil: The streets erupt – The Economist
  5. ^ Arias, Juan (June 12 2013). "Brasil se levanta en protesta contra el aumento de los precios del transporte". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 June 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ Arias, Juan (14 June 2013). "São Paulo vive una nueva noche de protestas con escenas de guerra". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  7. ^ Arias, Juan (14 June 2013). "Brésil : manifestations contre la hausse du prix des transports". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  8. ^ Brocchetto, Marilia (12 June 2013). "Protesters, police clash in Sao Paulo streets over fare increases". CNN. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  9. ^ a b "Anistia Internacional critica repressão a protestos no Rio e em SP". EBC.
  10. ^ a b "Associação de jornais condena ação da PM". Gazeta do Povo (in Portuguese). 2013-06-14. Retrieved 2013-06-20.
  11. ^ a b c Template:Es."Nuestros 20 céntimos son el parque de Estambul] El País
  12. ^ "SP: página no Facebook orienta manifestantes para protesto" (in Portuguese).
  13. ^ Galileu (magazine), ed. (14 June 2013). "How vinegar became a symbol of the "Salad Rebellion"" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  14. ^ Rodrigo Mora (13 June 2013). "Arrested São Paulo protesters claim detentions based on acts of spraying and because they carried vinegar" (in Portuguese). G1.
  15. ^ Piero Locatelli (13 June 2013). "In São Paulo, vinegar is a criminal act" (in Portuguese).
  16. ^ Template:PtJournalist arrested for carrying vinegar in demonstration against fare hiking is liberated
  17. ^ Bia Bonduki (14 June 2013). "Vinegar March is the newest revolutionary movement of the internet" (in Portuguese). YouPIX. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  18. ^ Template:Pt Youth rebellion in Brazil's autumn
  19. ^ Template:Pt Brazilian Autumn
  20. ^ Template:Pt the Brazilian Spring
  21. ^ "CMN revoga reajuste das passagens de ônibus". Tribuna do Norte (in Portuguese). 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2013-06-20.
  22. ^ "Vandalismo marcou protesto em Porto Alegre contra a tarifa de ônibus". Zero Hora. 14 June 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  23. ^ a b c d e Diário da Manhã: Passagem de ônibus voltou a custar R$ 2,70
  24. ^ a b Agência Brasil: Manifestantes contra aumento da passagem entram em conflito com PM em São Paulo
  25. ^ "Tarifa de ônibus em São Paulo sobe para R$ 3". Folha de S. Paulo (in Portuguese). 5 de janeiro de 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ Magalhães, Vera (21 de março de 2011). "Grupo invade Alesp para protestar contra Kassab e aumento do ônibus". Folha de S. Paulo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 13 June 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthor= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ "Valor da tarifa de trem e do Metrô de SP sobe para R$ 3 neste domingo" (in Portuguese). Portal G1. 12 de fevereiro de 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ "São Paulo terá nova tarifa de ônibus no 1º semestre, diz Haddad". Folha de S. Paulo (in Portuguese). 14 January 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthor= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ "Governo confirma MP para diminuir impostos do transporte público" (in Portuguese). Portal IG. 23 de maio de 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ^ Acordem: R$ 0,20 são apenas um detalhe, Gilberto Dimenstein at Folha de S. Paulo
  31. ^ Template:Pt Tag Delta – Reinaldo Azevedo's blog at Veja
  32. ^ Template:Pt [1]
  33. ^ a b "What's REALLY behind the Brazilian riots?".
  34. ^ Template:Pt Tomato price reduces in retail but grows more than 300% in wholesale Revista Veja, April 2013.
  35. ^ Template:Pt Tomato is not 'the villain': understand the price fluctuation
  36. ^ Template:Pt DEM party bets on inflation and the price of tomatoes to attack Dilma
  37. ^ Template:Pt Tomato prices became a joke in social networks: understand it
  38. ^ Template:Pt Taxes are 27% of the price of basic food items, says research
  39. ^ Template:Pt Brazilians work five months a year just for paying their taxes, says research
  40. ^ Template:Pt ENEM: 98 among the 100 worst schools of Rio de Janeiro are funded and administered by the State government Jornal do Brasil
  41. ^ Template:Pt At high school quality, Rio de Janeiro only outperforms Piauí
  42. ^ Template:Pt Dissertation proposals and tips – ENEM 2011 – Subemployment
  43. ^ Template:Pt LGBT community unites itself from the Metrópole boite to participate in the [June Salad Revolt] protests
  44. ^ Template:Pt An analysis over the texts of the PECs 33 and 37
  45. ^ Template:Pt June 19 Brasília [Salad Revolt] protest will collect petitions in favor of gay marriage EXAME magazine
  46. ^ Workers' unions should adhere to protests against fake hikes in São Paulo Template:Pt icon
  47. ^ Template:Pt People of São Paulo protest against Statute of the Unborn
  48. ^ Template:Pt Women protest at Sé against welfare stipend for rape victims
  49. ^ "São Paulo terá nova tarifa de ônibus no 1º semestre, diz Haddad" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  50. ^ Moreno, Ana Carolina. "Manifestantes depredam estação de Metrô, banca e shopping na Paulista" (in Portuguese).
  51. ^ Template:Pt In Rio 3 were shot amidst protests, 10 still hospitalized
  52. ^ Template:Pt Cabral and Beltrame did not comment protests and say this is a Military Police issue
  53. ^ Template:Pt Curitiba will have new protest against fare hike this Monday
  54. ^ Template:Pt Brazilians stage protests in other countries
  55. ^ Template:Pt Brazilian cities announce bus fare reductions
  56. ^ One million march across Brazil in biggest protests yet
  57. ^ Template:Pt Cities are being prepared for over 100 protests on thursday
  58. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/21/brazil-protest-social-media?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Fmedia%2Frss+%28Media%29
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