Brazil’s Independence Day Marked by Parades and Protests

By Lise Alves, Senior Contributing Reporter

SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – In several cities throughout Brazil today, Independence Day is being celebrated with military parades as well as protests against Michel Temer’s presidency. Parades featuring the country’s armed forces are scheduled in most state capitals on Wednesday, but so are protests against the new administration.

In Brasilia, President Michel Temer attended the early morning parade to celebrate Independence Day. The President was met by a wave of applauses but also shouts of ‘Fora Temer’ (Temer Out) by the crowd. Unlike his predecessors, Temer did not use the official Presidential sash during the ceremony and did not arrive at the ceremony in a convertible automobile.

This year’s celebration of independence coincides with the start of the Paralympic Games in Rio, but according to government officials the sporting event has not changed the scheduled military festivities.

“The Paralympics has not changed the parade. The opening ceremony [for the Paralympics] will be at night. The Foreign Ministry of the event [reception ceremony of state and heads of government, with the presence of President Michel Temer] will be in the afternoon and the parade will be in the morning,” said the head of Social Communication of the Eastern Military Command, Colonel Mario Felizardo Medina, according to Agencia Brasil.

In Rio de Janeiro, Olympic medalist, Felipe Wu, who is also a third sergeant in the Brazilian Army is scheduled carry the Symbolic Pyre of the Homeland. Wu won Brazil’s first Olympic medal during the air pistol competition in this year’s Games. Along with Wu, several other military athletes who participated in the Olympics will also be present during the commemorations.