In June 2013, several cities in Brazil witnessed a growing wave of protests which originated claims against the increase in tariffs of public transport. On June 17, more than 250,000 people took to the streets of 11 Brazilian capitals and other cities in a wave of popular demonstration that has not been seen in the country since the protests for the impeachment of Fernando Collor de Mello, in 1992. Abroad, more than two dozen cities had demonstrations in solidarity with the actions that took place in Brazil.
Despite having as its initial claim the repeal of increases in public transport fares, the list of claims has expanded, encompassing also violent police repression, Brazil's spending on sporting events (such as the 2014 World Cup and the Olympics), as well as the more generic demands and without more concrete notes on the resolution of problems, such as the fight against corruption and improvements in the systems of health and education.
A wave of nationalism also emerged in the days prior to June 17, propagated mainly by internet social networks, in which it was said that Brazil, the sleeping giant, had woken up. With phrases evoking excerpts from the National Anthem, such as “you will see that your son does not run away from the fight”, its promoters intended to indicate that started a new moment of political participation of the Brazilian population, whose objective would be, in general terms, the reconstruction of a new parents.
As this text was written the day after the demonstrations on June 17, 2013, it is impossible to point out clear paths for the demonstrations that took place. However, it is possible to indicate a history of the struggles that started the demonstrations, as well as to raise the reasons that led to the appearance of new demands.
The origin of the protests lay in the demand for the revocation of the increases in public transport fares that took place in several cities in Brazil. Since the end of the 19th century – with the Revolt of the Vintém, in Rio de Janeiro – demonstrations take place in Brazilian cities both against the high prices of tariffs and the poor quality offered by this essential public service. In the mid-2000s, in the cities of Salvador and Florianópolis, demonstrations against the increase in the price of public transport, which for days stopped traffic and managed to have the increases revoked.
From these manifestations, the participating groups were able to create during the World Social Forum of Porto Alegre, in 2005, the Free Pass Movement (MPL), which was formed in more than a dozen cities of the Brazil. These groups started to discuss the situation of public transport in their cities and in Brazil as a whole, resulting in questioning both the amount charged for the service and the public transport model adopted in the Brazil. Another point discussed is the form of management, whether it serves the private interests of companies or the guarantee of basic social rights.
In this sense, the protests that start against the increase in fares also begin to question the public transport model adopted in cities. In 2013, the first demonstration took place in Porto Alegre, in March, with the movement's achievement the temporary suspension of charging the new stipulated price, after intervention by the judiciary. In Goiânia, in June, the Front for Fight against Increase also managed a temporary suspension of the new tariff after intervention by Procon and the Judiciary. In Natal, after some demonstrations, the mayor determined a reduction in the tariff, arguing that he did so because of the reduction of PIS and Cofins rates on public transport inputs, which became effective on 1st of June.
But the demonstrations started to gain a greater amplitude after the street acts organized by the MPL-SP began. Positioning itself against the fare increase in São Paulo, the movement also demands a new proposal for public transport pricing, the zero tariff, which is not directly paid by the user, a situation that occurs with other public services, such as education and collection of trash. The acts that began with around 5,000 people reached their peak on June 17, when more than 70,000 people took to the streets of the capital of São Paulo to ask for the repeal of the increase. Other cities also began to demonstrate against the increase, such as Rio de Janeiro, which gathered more than 100,000 people on the streets.
But the police repression also raised other discussions, such as the violence in the demonstrations and the criminalization of social movements. The criminalization of social movements is perceived by protesters when the police try to frame some participants in an action of gang formation, indicating that, for the police, organizing itself politically in a way that escapes from traditional parameters constitutes crime. Or even the fact that they carry bottles of vinegar to mitigate the effects of tear gas, which was taken as a reason for arresting demonstrators by police officers. This situation, in fact, made the demonstrations also earn the nickname of Revolta do Vinagre.
With regard to violence, criticism is directed both at protesters, accused of acts of vandalism, and to the police forces, accused of disproportionate actions of force and also of direct attack on protesters and journalists. This police violence has even caused the country's main media to stop directly attacking the demonstrations – as they did when they pointed out predatory actions in the acts – and started to defend freedom of action politics.
This change in the means of communication was accompanied by an expansion of the demand agendas, including issues other than those related to public transport. Positions against corruption, improvements in education and health systems, as well as the defense of the investigative function of the Public Ministry (which is threatened through the Constitutional Amendment Project No. 37, PEC 37) are being raised.
These are agendas on which there is no consensus on their defense among the movements that started the demonstrations related to transport. On the one hand, movements such as the MPL-SP claim that the immediate demand is only one: tariff reduction; but, later, that there is a debate about the model of public transport in cities. On the other hand, the media and other sectors of Brazilian society believe that the demands must be broader, for social rights and against corruption, but still without concrete proposals, in addition to the non-acceptance of the PEC 37.
The paths to be followed in the political sphere from these manifestations are open. What is certain is that a new political moment in Brazilian history began with these demonstrations that brought together thousands of people in the streets of cities. It remains now to follow the actions of social groups to know the results that will emerge from these manifestations.
––––––––––––
* Image Credit: 1000 Words and Shutterstock.com
By Tales Pinto
Graduated in History
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/historiab/protestos-contra-aumento-das-tarifas-uma-nova-acao-politica.htm
