World Cup Protest in São Paulo Ends in Vandalism and Leads to 128 Arrests

01/27/2014 - 08h39

On São Paulo's 460th anniversary, a protests against the World Cup ended in vandalism and rioting in the streets of downtown, with repeated scenes of violence from last year's protests.

At least 128 protesters were arrested and taken to the Jardins police station in packed buses.

Mayor Fernando Haddad (PT) and Governor Geraldo Alckmin (PSDB) reacted strongly to the protest. Both classified the behavior of the protesters as "vandalism."

"These vandals have not defiled a day that was filled with celebration," Alckmin said on a social media site.

World Cup Protest in SP Ends in Vandalism

The PT regretted that the peaceful demonstration ended in "acts of violence, vandalism and pillaging."

The protest - which had 1,500 people participating, according to Military Police - descended into violence when members of the Black Bloc separated themselves from the other protesters.

The confusion began near the Theatro Municipal. Members of the Black Bloc vandalized banks, stores, cars and a Metropolitan Civil Guard vehicle.

The Military Police, who until then accompanied the protest without intervening, used gas bombs and tear gas to disperse the group on Augusta Street. People in bars in the vicinity, as well as children and the elderly, ended up inhaling the gas.

Police cordoned off an isolated area to prevent the protest from reaching República square, where concerts were being played for the city's anniversary celebrations.

Protests against the World Cup occurred simultaneously in 13 capital cities. There were also confrontations in Fortaleza and Natal, but on a smaller scale.

The protest in São Paulo had a heavy security presence, with 2,000 Military Police officers present.

The demonstration started around 17h30 near MASP, where about 50 people were camped out since the early morning hours.

Beforehand, Military Police searched protesters on Paulista Avenue, creating tension, which increased when around 40 Black Bloc members positioned themselves up front, dressed in black and wearing masks.

During the demonstration, protesters held up signs and chanted slogans like, "Brazil, wake up, teachers are worth more than Neymar."

On Brigadeiro Luís Antônio, frightened storeowners lowered their doors. Shortly after, the confusion spread after protesters broke the doors of a Caixa agency and threw a garbage can in flames inside.

Translated by JILL LANGLOIS

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