The upcoming football World Cup is scheduled to be held in Brazil in a year, and tensions are already running high. Tens of thousands of Brazilians took to the streets to protest the escalating costs of public transport and the expenses associated with hosting the 2014 World Cup. These protests, regarded as the most significant social demonstrations since 1992, occurred concurrently with the ongoing Confederations Cup.
Major cities, including Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, and Salvador, experienced widespread demonstrations. In Brasilia, a group of around 200 protesters, out of over 2,000, managed to climb onto the roof of the Parliament building. In Belo Horizonte, tear gas was used by the police to disperse demonstrators near the Mineirao stadium where the Confederations Cup match between Nigeria and Tahiti was taking place.
The protesters’ slogan was straightforward: “Come, come, come to the street, come!”
One young demonstrator explained, “I am here to show that Brazil is not only the country of football and parties. Here we have other concerns, like the lack of investment in really important things like health and education.” Another chant heard was “Brazil is ruined, the people have appeared.”
In response to the protests, President Dilma Roussef acknowledged the nature of young people to demonstrate, stating, “Peaceful protests are legitimate and part of democracy,” in an attempt to pacify the situation.
