After Violence at Virada Cultural, Gay Parade Will Have Reinforced Security

05/27/2013 - 08h06

Worried about the negative consequences of the Virada Cultural, marked by a wave of looting, organizers of the Gay Parade want the event's security to be reinforced."If two major events like these are marked by violence, it will be the city of São Paulo that will be in check," says Nelson Matias Pereira, 46, one of the founders of São Paulo's Gay Parade, to be held on Sunday. "And the public opinion will not accept that."

There are at least three central issues concerning the parade, the police and the city's security department: increasing the number of police on the route, doubling the lookout for looting and stopping the illegal sale of alcohol.

Folha verified that the outcome of the Virada Cultural led to a 50% increase in the number of police -600 troops were added to the 1,200 announced at first -.

Simon Plestenjak/Folhapress

Gay Parada 2012 going across Paulista avenue.

During the Gay Parade, which starts on Paulista avenue and ends on Consolação, the police will set up special security in points considered critical. They are: the area surrounding Masp, due to the concentration of people; the corner of Paulista and Consolação, which raises worries with the movement of sound trucks on which the bands perform; and the República square region, where the concert that closes the event will be held at 6:30 pm.

The República region alone will receive 400 troops. The parade's director says the area will also get more lighting.

The Municipal Security Department will nearly double the number of agents in comparison with last year: from 500 to 900. Another measure to avoid looting is the police's so-called Eagle Eye, generally used in extreme cases.

The system allows the control of cameras that can be installed on police motorcycles, cars and helicopters. The images are sent to command centers.

DEATH

The Virada Cultural, which received thousands of São Paulo residents on May 18 and 19, ended with looting, arrests and one person killed.One of the city's three most important touristic events, the theme of the 17th LGBT Pride Parade of São Paulo, to begin at noon on Sunday, will be "In the closet never again - Union and awareness of the fight against homophobia."

Translated by THOMAS MUELLO

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