Protests in Brazil

Since the month of June, there have been protest marches all around the country. It started off with a group of students who set a date on a social network for a march to protest against the bus fare that was going up 20 cents. It was beautiful to see that finally people weren´t going to take what the government was doing any longer. There were marches in many different cities all at the same time. Unfortunately, together with these people, there were people who were just there for the heck of it. These people covered their faces and broke store windows and also into banks. It was very sad to see because at the same time that a gigantic group protesting for their rights, there was a smaller group destroying other people´s properties.

The marches were positive for the bus fares went back down. However, other points were brought up like education, health, corrupt political actions and the police force. Therefore, there have been protest marches every week since. Nowadays though, the people that take part in these acts are few, hundreds not thousands like those because of the 20 cents. Nonetheless, those who were protesting just for the heck of it marched on and there were times that it seemed like there were only people destroying property.

When people were protesting for the 20-cent reduction, they would chant “It´s not only because of the 20 cents”. It was beautiful. Finally the Brazilian population were taking measures and doing something to change the country for the better. However, two months have gone by and it seems like it was really only about the 20 cents. Prices have increased tremendously in food, clothing, medication and so on.

It seems like the population of the country woke up in June and went back to sleep. Sad.

(The picture below was taken two weeks before the protest marches started. Behind the flag, under the viaduct, there is a gym set up for those who live on the streets. When the flag came down, I thought it was to show off the new equipment, but now I am wondering whether there is a connection between the flag and the protest marches. Mind you, this is in the downtown area. )

Picture by Meire Marion

( Written August 8, 2013)

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