Brazil Protesters Take to Streets, but in Smaller Numbers

By Lise Alves, Senior Contributing Reporter

SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – Protesters in Brazil once again took to the streets on Sunday to demonstrate against everything from corruption, to the proposed social security reform and an outsourcing bill approved by Congress. The demonstrations, however, were much smaller than those seen in the last two years, which ultimately culminated in the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff.

In São Paulo, protesters once again gathered at Avenida Paulista to protest in favor of Operação Lava Jato (Carwash Operation) against public campaign funding, and criticize the approval of bill 722, which deletes one of the articles of the Disarmament Statute. Although a significantly smaller crowd than in earlier rallies, those who came out were adamant about the need to keep demonstrating.

“We can not keep silent. We have to take action. We can not trust any politicians, since they only legislate in their benefit; to prevent what can be done against them,” homemaker Sandra Salatini was quoted by local media while protesting Sunday afternoon in São Paulo.

In Brasilia of the 100,000 expected, less than one thousand showed up, leaving almost as many police officers as demonstrators on the Esplanada dos Ministerios (Ministry Mall).

Demonstrators in Brazil’s capital protested against the proposed electoral model being discussed in Congress as well as the attempts to change the bill dubbed Ten Measures Against Corruption, a popular initiative which has been facing resistance from some Congressional representatives.

In Rio de Janeiro, the protest coordinated by the group Vem Para Rua (Come to the Streets) was also smaller than expected.

A group of hundreds of people gathered in Copacabana Beach to support Operação Lava Jato and call for an end of the privileged forum for politicians and impunity for those charged with corruption.