Violence at Rio de Janeiro protest

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/16/violence-rio-de-janeiro-protests

Version 0 of 1.

A protest in support of striking teachers ended in dozens of arrests in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday night as the annual 15 October Teachers' Day holiday came to a violent conclusion. A police car was set on fire, bank foyers and cash machines smashed and fires lit in Floriano Square after thousands joined an action that brought the city centre to a standstill.

Police used teargas and percussion grenades as they struggled to regain control of the city centre from a crowd including black-clad masked youths linked to the Black Bloc protest movement. Some protesters threw rocks, fireworks and other missiles – advancing across Floriano Square behind sheets of corrugated iron and forcing riot police to retreat at one point. Police, who were evident in much smaller numbers, also threw rocks at protesters. Adolfo Tavares, 28, was treated by volunteer medics after he said he was hit in the leg by a  rock thrown by police. "Police formed a barrier and began throwing rocks," he said.

The Folha de S Paulo newspaper reported that buses were used to ferry arrested protesters to police stations in Rio. It said Brazilian lawyers' association the OAB, which accompanies protests, reported 200 arrests throughout the day.

There were 56 arrests at a student march in São Paulo where a furniture shop was invaded and protesters clashed with police, reports said. Smaller demonstrations were reported in Porto Alegre and Brasília.

The Rio riot followed the same pattern as a demonstration a week ago in Rio – peaceful protest followed by conflict with police. Earlier a carnival atmosphere had prevailed as samba drums pounded and a protester dressed as Spider-Man led a brass band past the city council chamber – where demonstrators had climbed an iron gate and daubed "Dilma out" in a reference to President Dilma Rousseff.

The G1 news site estimated there were 10,000 on the march, which filled Floriano Square and nearby streets – just a few miles from the Maracanã stadium where the 2014 World Cup final will be held, and where Rio's municipal theatre and council chamber are situated.<br /> <br />Local media blamed the violence on Black Bloc members who are a feature of protests in Rio, but protesters said the black-clad youth had formed an unlikely alliance with striking teachers, shocked by heavyhanded police tactics at previous marches.

"Those who come to the street aren't scared because they know the boys are right," said high school teacher Regina Silva, 50, before the violence broke out. Silva earns R5,000 (£1,433) a month and is on strike for more money and a better career plan.

Student Ariane Santos, 26, who was wearing an Anonymous mask, said the Black Bloc protected protesters. "The Black Bloc always defend the demonstrations when the police come here," she said. "They protect the teachers in various situations."

Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.