Vie Mar 29, 2024
29 marzo, 2024

More than 20,000 on the Streets of São José dos Campos for the Reduction of the Bus Fare

Throughout the country, demonstrations were attended by about 1.2 million participants through more than 100 cities

More than 20,000 people took to the streets of São José dos Campos (São Paulo, Brazil) on Thursday, June 20th, in a great demonstration for the public transportation fare reduction and for the improvement of public services, particularly health and education. The protesters stopped the two lanes of Dutra highway for five hours.

The demonstration was part of the National Day of Struggle Against the Increase in the public transportation fare, convened by several organizations, and occurred despite the fare reduction from R$ 3.20 to R$ 3.00, announced on the same day by the Mayor Charlie Almeida (PT). The movement demands the total cancellation of the adjustment, i.e., that the fare goes back to R$ 2.80.

As in the rest of the country, demonstrators protested in São José dos Campos not only for the public transportation fare reduction. The high salaries of city councilors were another reason for discontent and it was also on the demonstration agenda. «Councilmen, you can be sure, your salary is also going to decrease”, chanted the protesters.

On posters, banners and slogans, the protesters also asked for more education, health and criticized the high investments in the World Cup. «From the Cup, I give up, I want money for health and education”, it was heard in one of the slogans.

The Metalworkers Union, the CSP-Conlutas and ANEL (National Assembly of Students-Free) participated in the call for the demonstration. On Tuesday, the 18th, these entities did a preparation demonstration and, throughout the week, the Union did activities at GM, Embraer and other plants calling for the demonstration.

The students were majority in the demonstration, and for many of them, this was their first time in a protest. A new demonstration is scheduled for next Tuesday, the 25th.

In the Vale do Paraíba, 45,000 people participated in demonstrations in 14 cities, among them Taubaté, Cachoeira Paulista, Pindamonhangaba, Caraguatatuba and Ilhabela. In Jacarei, more than 2000 people blocked Dutra Highway for 30 minutes.

More than 1.2 million throughout the country

Across the country, around 1.2 million people took to the streets through more than 100 cities. Virtually all capital cities witnessed the protests of masses that turned against the governments.

In Brasilia, protesters tried to occupy the Palace of Itamaraty (Ministry of Foreign Affairs). The National Congress, the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo and the São Paulo Municipality were also targets of the protests.

The police again cracked down on protests with violence. In Bahia, the National Security Force was called to prevent the demonstration from reaching the Arena Fonte Nova stadium where the soccer match between Uruguay and Nigeria were taking place, for the Confederations Cup. When the march approached the area set up as a safety area imposed by FIFA, the confrontation began and lasted for more than four hours.

Across the country, hundreds of protesters were injured or was arrested by the police.

The Trade Union and the CSP-Conlutas advocate that flags in defense of the working class rights, such as wage increases, the pension reform cancellation and the freezing in food prices also integrate the manifestations agenda.

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