Downtown SP Becomes Frequent Vandalism Target of "Black Blocs"

03/10/2014 - 09h46

Barão de Itapetininga Street, in downtown São Paulo, ceased to be known only as a shopping area and is now the square meter most vandalized by supporters of the Black Blocs, who advocates the destruction of property as protest.

After the protests started in June, at least 20 establishments located on a 300-meter stretch of the street already had their windows broken, doors dented, walls sprayed with graffiti or were robbed. Another 17 businesses on Direita and Sete de Abril Streets, as well as at Ramos de Azevedo Square - all located downtown - also became targets.

The vandalism usually happens at the end of a protest. At least two times, the attacks started when protesters passed in front of a McDonald's. "They choose some type of power symbol - banks, multinational companies, fast food restaurants - to get attention," says PUC political scientist Pedro Arruda. It's called "symbolic" violence.

Protests in São Paulo

In a survey conducted by Folha, a third of the establishments vandalized in the area are banks. Clothing stores, restaurants and cell phone companies follow. Some locations were targeted more than once.

Local businesses are not always spared. "They threw a chair at my kiosk when it was closed," said Martim da Silva, 47, who works on Dom José de Barros Street, which intersects with Barão de Itapetininga. To guarantee he won't suffer any more losses and to discourage further attacks, Silva began to stand guard at his kiosk on protest days.

This year, two demonstrations against the World Cup took place on Saturdays, when downtown bars have live music and sidewalks are crowded with tables. The next will be on Thursday (13).

"We're dealing with terrorism. They wanted to steal our stereo system, they broke bottles," said Ademir Ramiro, 55, who owns a diner.

The confusion led several clients to leave without paying. Protesters tried to blend in with customers to hide from Military Police riot officers. It was obvious that, often, the message they were trying to get across was not well received.

"When we were closing the doors, some of them took off their masks and came in here. They nearly got hit by the customers," said Alexandre Silva, 40, a cashier at a restaurant.

Translated by JILL LANGLOIS

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