A political earthquake has started to grumble underneath the streets of Brazil. Last week, there was considerable violence in Sao Paulo, where as many as 100 protesters were injured including several journalists during demonstrations against a bus fare hike. As is typical in cases of sudden bursts of widespread activism, it’s difficult to know in advance what event will catalyze a population already fed up with grievances. In the case of Turkey, it was an announcement to raze a park and build a mall. In Brazil, it is a hike in public transportation costs in a nation already frustrated with high inflation and rampant political corruption.
Today will be a very important test-case to see whether or not the unrest will escalate. While it appears the “authorities” are expected to exercise restraint during what may be as many as 20,000 protesters in Sao Paulo today, these situations are inherently volatile. It is particularly intense in Brazil after spectators at a soccer game this past weekend humiliated President Dilma Rousseff by booing him for more than a minute. From Bloomberg:
As many as 20,000 Brazilians are expected to march in Sao Paulo today in what organizers vow will be the biggest yet in a wave of protests to rock Latin America’s largest economy in little more than a week.
Authorities are pledging to keep riot police at bay to avoid a repeat of clashes June 13 that left dozens wounded when rubber bullets and tear gas were fired upon activists protesting an increase in bus fares.
The demonstrations have grown larger and spread across the country as discontent about inflation and the economy mount, fueling dissatisfaction with President Dilma Rousseff.
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