2013 protests in Brazil
The 2013 Brazilian protests 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.
| 2013 Brazilian protests | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Protesters at the National Congress of Brazil, in Brasília, June 17 | |||
| Date | May - June 2013 (minor protests) June – July 2013 (major protests) | ||
| Location | • Over 500 Brazilian cities and at least 27 cities with Brazilian diasporas around the globe | ||
| Caused by | • 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 | ||
| Goals | • 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 | ||
| Methods | • 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. | ||
| Status | Major protests subsided | ||
| Number | |||
| |||
| Casualties | |||
| Death(s) | 13+ | ||
| Injuries | 100 | ||
| Arrested | 250 | ||
The demonstrations were initially organized to protest against increases in bus, train, and metro ticket prices in some Brazilian cities, but grew to include other issues such as the high corruption in the government and police brutality used against some demonstrators. By mid-June, the movement had grown to become Brazil's largest since the 1992 protests against former President Fernando Collor de Mello.
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.