2013 protests in Brazil
The 2013 Brazilian protests[c][9] were 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.
See also: 2014 protests in Brazil2013 Brazilian protests
• Increases in bus, train and metro fare in some major cities
• Police Brutality
• Low quality and insufficient public transport
• 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
• Multiple scandals of corruption, embezzlement and overbilling in the government
• Low investment in public services
• 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, among other reasons
• Improvements in public transport's quality and access to the population (subdued June 24)
• Less public transport cost for the population (subdued June 24)
• Increase of government effort and funds to improve other key public services including public education, national health care and transport infrastructure altogether (subdued June 24)
• Less priority to fund major sports events (subdued June 24)
• Revocation of controversial law in discussion by National Chamber's plans limiting the powers of the Public Ministry to investigate criminal activities in the government (subdued June 25)
• "Zero tariffs"
• End to police brutality
• Democratization of the media
• Occupations of public and private buildings,
• Autodefense of masses and Black Block,
• Demonstrations,
• protest marches,
• online activism and alternative media,
• Direct action,
• Graffiti, banners and signs,
• Barricades,
• attacks to government power and capitalist symbols,
• Destruction and firebombing of buses.
Major protests subsided
13+ [2]
100[3]
250[3]
The demonstrations were initially organized to protest against increases in bus, train, and metro ticket prices in some Brazilian cities,[10][11][12][13] but grew to include other issues such as the high corruption in the government and police brutality used against some demonstrators.[14][15] By mid-June, the movement had grown to become Brazil's largest since the 1992 protests against former President Fernando Collor de Mello.[16]
As with the 2013 Gezi Park 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.[17]
Timeline[edit]
June 1 to 14[edit]
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, coming into effect on June 1.[59]
The first large protest was held on June 6 on Paulista Avenue.[60] In ensuing protests, news reports changed the discourse, mentioning that police had "lost control" on June 13, because they began using rubber bullets not only against protesters but also journalists that were covering the events. Numerous civil rights groups have criticized the harsh police response, including Amnesty International[14] and the Associação Nacional de Jornais.[15]
June 17 to 18[edit]
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.[16][28]
Although mostly peaceful, the protests escalated with the invasion of the Rio de Janeiro 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.[61]
State government authorities did not intervene, saying this was an issue for the Military Police.[62] Other protests erupted in support of those being detained by police. Demonstrations were held in a number of cities.[16] The ones held in Curitiba were reported attended by over 10,000 people.[63]
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.[64]
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan linked the protests with similar protests in Turkey, claiming that they were part of a conspiracy by unspecified foreign forces, bankers, and international and local media outlets. He said that "the same game is now being played over Brazil. The symbols are the same, the posters are the same, Twitter, Facebook are the same, the international media is the same. They are being led from the same center. They are doing their best to achieve in Brazil what they could not achieve in Turkey." He further stated that the two protests were "the same game, the same trap, the same aim."[90]
