Brazil: Brasilia’s monumental axis avenue closed for Independence Day celebrations

The “Esplanade of Ministries”, Brasilia’s monumental axis avenue, was closed on Monday, September 5, to reinforce security during Brazil’s Independence Day celebrations, which will have a civic-military parade on September 7.

In 2021, supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro (Liberal Party – PL) gathered on the Esplanade, with cars and trucks with the Brazilian flag accessing the local roads, after removing barriers without police resistance.

The PMDF (State Police of the Federal District) told Poder360 that the public security agencies met to carry out a “strategic plan” to bar trucks, buses, and trailers from entering the Esplanade.

According to the police, the closing time was already pre-set for 8 PM on Monday, and until further notice, the barriers should be maintained until Wednesday, September 7, after the planned acts are finished.

To access the Três Poderes Square, the public must pass through a PMDF search. The Cavalry, BPCães (Battalion of Policing with Dogs), and Bope (Battalion of Special Police Operations) will support the operations.

In addition, the security forces will not allow access to the site with sharp objects, such as glass, fireworks, and flag poles.

Here is the list with the rest of the items prohibited in the event:

• weapons in general;
• laser pointers or similar;
• explosive artifacts;
• sprays and aerosols;
• flagpoles made of any material to support, or not, flags, posters, etc.;
• glass bottles and cans;
• toy guns, replicas, simulacra, and any items that have the appearance of a firearm;
• illicit drugs, according to the Brazilian legislation;
• flammable substances of any size or type;
• bladed weapons or any object that can cause injuries, even if they represent work or cultural utensils (i.e., scissors, hammers, arrows, clubs, tacks, drills);
• any other items to be disclosed, at least 24 hours before the Operation, by PMDF, SSP/DF, or GDF.

Access to the Três Poderes Square will be restricted, and the National Congress, the Ministry of Justice, the Itamaraty, the STF (Supreme Court), and the TSE (Superior Electoral Court) will be protected with railings and policing.

TRUCKERS

The truckers and the President’s supporters’ groups have established the Mané Garrincha stadium as a stopping point, a few kilometers away from the Esplanade.

The popular demonstrations should start from 1 PM, after the civic-military parade, beginning at 8 AM. For demonstrators with “orientations contrary to the government”, the PMDF says that the TV Tower parking area has been designated. The site will also be monitored.

According to a note from SSP-DF (Public Safety Department of the Federal District), a group of truck drivers heading to the region was informed of the impossibility of accessing the site, following Eixão Sul’s direction “in a peaceful manner”.

With information from Poder360