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Brazil protests: riot police scatter crowds in Rio Brazil protests: riot police scatter crowds in Rio
(about 1 hour later)
The streets of central Rio de Janeiro echoed with percussion grenades and swirled with tear gas last night as ranks of riot police scattered the biggest demonstrations the cities have seen for more than two decades.The streets of central Rio de Janeiro echoed with percussion grenades and swirled with tear gas last night as ranks of riot police scattered the biggest demonstrations the cities have seen for more than two decades.
As a minority of protestors threw rocks, the police fired volleys of gas cannisters and rubber bullets into the crowd and up onto overpasses where car drivers and bus passengers were stuck in traffic jams.As a minority of protestors threw rocks, the police fired volleys of gas cannisters and rubber bullets into the crowd and up onto overpasses where car drivers and bus passengers were stuck in traffic jams.
Vast crowds – estimated at 300,000 – filled Rio's streets, one of a wave of huge nationwide marches. Hundreds of thousands more were in São Paulo and other cities. Clashes were reported in the Amazon jungle city of Belem, in Porto Alegre in the south, in the university town Campinas north of Sao Paulo and in the north-eastern city of Salvador.Vast crowds – estimated at 300,000 – filled Rio's streets, one of a wave of huge nationwide marches. Hundreds of thousands more were in São Paulo and other cities. Clashes were reported in the Amazon jungle city of Belem, in Porto Alegre in the south, in the university town Campinas north of Sao Paulo and in the north-eastern city of Salvador.
More than a million people joined the protests around the country in 80 cities, Associated Press reported.
At least one protester was killed in Sao Paulo state after a car rammed into a crowd of demonstrators, the driver apparently angered about being unable to drive along a street.
The Rio demonstration started at the city cathedral in good spirits with people singing, chanting and carrying banners.The Rio demonstration started at the city cathedral in good spirits with people singing, chanting and carrying banners.
The protests were sparked last week by opposition to a bus price rise but they have spread rapidly to encompass a range of grievances, as was evident from the placards. "Stop corruption. Change Brazil"; "Halt evictions"; "Come to the street. It's the only place we don't pay taxes"; "Government failure to understand education will lead to revolution".The protests were sparked last week by opposition to a bus price rise but they have spread rapidly to encompass a range of grievances, as was evident from the placards. "Stop corruption. Change Brazil"; "Halt evictions"; "Come to the street. It's the only place we don't pay taxes"; "Government failure to understand education will lead to revolution".
"Brazil woke up. The youth are going to the street, the workers as well, to construct a new fight," said Paulo Henrique Lima, 24, one of organisers. "We are changing the history of this country. Where it is going we are going to construct a new politics where people have a voice and go to the street to demand this.""Brazil woke up. The youth are going to the street, the workers as well, to construct a new fight," said Paulo Henrique Lima, 24, one of organisers. "We are changing the history of this country. Where it is going we are going to construct a new politics where people have a voice and go to the street to demand this."
The swelling tide of protests prompted President Dilma Rousseff to cancel a trip next week to Japan, her office said.The swelling tide of protests prompted President Dilma Rousseff to cancel a trip next week to Japan, her office said.
Many in the mostly young, middle class crowd were experiencing their first large protest.Many in the mostly young, middle class crowd were experiencing their first large protest.
"There are no politicians who speak for us," said Jamaime Schmitt, an engineer. "This is not just about bus fares any more. We pay high taxes and we are a rich country, but we can't see this in our schools, hospitals and roads.""There are no politicians who speak for us," said Jamaime Schmitt, an engineer. "This is not just about bus fares any more. We pay high taxes and we are a rich country, but we can't see this in our schools, hospitals and roads."
Matheus Bizarria, who works for the NGO Action Aid, said people had reached the limit of their tolerance about longstanding problems that the Confederations Cup and World Cup have brought into focus because billions of reais have been spent on new stadiums rather than public services. Rio is also due to host a papal visit to World Youth Day next month, and the Olympics in 2016.Matheus Bizarria, who works for the NGO Action Aid, said people had reached the limit of their tolerance about longstanding problems that the Confederations Cup and World Cup have brought into focus because billions of reais have been spent on new stadiums rather than public services. Rio is also due to host a papal visit to World Youth Day next month, and the Olympics in 2016.
"It's totally connected to the mega-events," Bizarria said. "People have had enough, but last year only 100 people marched against a bus price rise. There were 1,000 last week and 100,000 on Monday. Now we hope for a million.""It's totally connected to the mega-events," Bizarria said. "People have had enough, but last year only 100 people marched against a bus price rise. There were 1,000 last week and 100,000 on Monday. Now we hope for a million."
Initially the mood was peaceful. When a handful of people began tearing down posters for the Confederations Cup, the rest of the crowd sat down around them and shamed them with shouts of "No violence" and "No vandalism".Initially the mood was peaceful. When a handful of people began tearing down posters for the Confederations Cup, the rest of the crowd sat down around them and shamed them with shouts of "No violence" and "No vandalism".
But police had increased their manpower more than 10-fold from Monday, and were quickly on the offensive.But police had increased their manpower more than 10-fold from Monday, and were quickly on the offensive.
After a confrontation near the city hall, they drove back the crowd, who fled coughing with tears streaming down their cheeks. At least one person was hit by rubber bullets, and showed the bruise on his leg where he was hit.After a confrontation near the city hall, they drove back the crowd, who fled coughing with tears streaming down their cheeks. At least one person was hit by rubber bullets, and showed the bruise on his leg where he was hit.
Others were furious that the police actions were indiscriminate. "Where we had been tranquil, then suddenly they started firing gas into the crowd. People were scared and appalled," said Alessandra Sampaio, one of the protesters.Others were furious that the police actions were indiscriminate. "Where we had been tranquil, then suddenly they started firing gas into the crowd. People were scared and appalled," said Alessandra Sampaio, one of the protesters.
"They are cowards. They wanted to disperse the crowd never mind who it was. I'm very angry, it was a real abuse of power.""They are cowards. They wanted to disperse the crowd never mind who it was. I'm very angry, it was a real abuse of power."
Victor Bezerra, a law student, said the police actions were like something from the dictatorship era. "These are bad days for Brazil. The police were acting just like they did 30 years ago."Victor Bezerra, a law student, said the police actions were like something from the dictatorship era. "These are bad days for Brazil. The police were acting just like they did 30 years ago."
The crowd were driven into side streets and back towards the central station by lines of police backed by officers on horsesback and motorbikes carrying shotguns.The crowd were driven into side streets and back towards the central station by lines of police backed by officers on horsesback and motorbikes carrying shotguns.
Vandalism was on a greater scale than Monday. Protesters pulled down security cameras, smashed bus stops and torched cars. Every hoarding that advertised the Confederations Cup was destroyed.Vandalism was on a greater scale than Monday. Protesters pulled down security cameras, smashed bus stops and torched cars. Every hoarding that advertised the Confederations Cup was destroyed.
"Look at this. It's hard to believe. Terrible!", said Ellie Lopes, a 22-year-old passerby as she surveyed the debris and flames."Look at this. It's hard to believe. Terrible!", said Ellie Lopes, a 22-year-old passerby as she surveyed the debris and flames.
(Additional reporting by Dom Phillips and Helena Alves)(Additional reporting by Dom Phillips and Helena Alves)
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