Confrontation and Vandalism in Anti-Temer Protest in Brasília

11/30/2016 - 11h55

A protest against the Government and against projects from President Michel Temer ended up in destruction at the end of the day on Tuesday (the 29th).

After more than 12 thousand people (according to estimates from the Legislative Police) met in front of the lawn of the National Congress, ministries were vandalized including those of Education, Planning and Defense.

Some protesters spray-painted cars and tried to overturn them. The Military Police and the Legislative Police, who had set up an isolation cordon, reacted with stun grenades and tear gas.

Some protesters wearing masks threw molotov cocktails and other objects at the police.

Reacting in a different manner from earlier protests in the past that were also violent, the Military and Legislative police confronted the manifestation with tear gas and stun grenades, which caused the protesters to disperse to other areas of the Ministries Esplanade.

While yelling "Out with Temer", the manifestation included labor unions, students, Indians and leftist organizations.

There were banners against the government's proposal to freeze federal spending, which had been scheduled for voting in the Senate on Tuesday, and the reform of high school education, among other points.

Senators and congressman from the left criticized the police.

In Congress, the Senate session which was voting on the PEC (Proposal for Constitutional Amendment) was disorganized, which led the President of the Senate, Renan Calheiros (PMDB-AL), to temporarily suspend the procedures.

Due to the voting on the proposal, which is a legislative priority for President Michel Temer in 2016, the access lanes to the primary entrances to the Congress were closed off and security was reinforced.

Translated by LLOYD HARDER

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