Widespread Brazil Protests Mark 191st Independence Day

September 8, 2013 Leave a comment

Updated September 7, 2013, 7:10 p.m. ET

Widespread Brazil Protests Mark Independence Day

LORETTA CHAO in São Paulo and PAULO TREVISANI in Brasilia

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Dozens were arrested amid fresh protests that interrupted Independence Celebrations in Brazil’s major cities on Saturday. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff leads a parade to commemorate the 191st anniversary of the Independence Day of Brazil in Brasilia Saturday.

Demonstrators use pieces of wood to confront riot police at a protest in São Paulo Son Saturday. Police used tear gas to disperse crowds of at least hundreds of demonstrators who stormed a celebratory military parade in Rio de Janeiro and burned Brazilian flags. At least 24 people were detained by police and several were injured in the clash, but no serious injuries were reported by late afternoon. In Brasilia, 34 of about 1,000 protesters holding signs and chanting slogans demanding better public services and an end to corruption were detained. More were detained in Fortaleza, Curitiba and other cities. Thousands of marchers blocked São Paulo’s main avenue.The protests were much smaller than demonstrations that shook Brazil in June but served as a reminder that the issues that ignited the protests are being kept alive by smaller groups. About a million people participated simultaneously around the country at the peak of protests this year.

Approval ratings for Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and other politicians have plummeted in the aftermath as they struggle to address numerous public complaints, including spending on the 2014 World Cup, and poor education and health services.

Ms. Rousseff appeared at the parade in Brasilia on Saturday morning waving at onlookers from an open car without incident, but people continued protesting in front of Congress after the parade ended. Hundreds attempted to enter a stadium where Brazil’s national soccer team played a friendly game against Australia but were blocked by police with tear gas.

A presidential spokesman declined to comment.

Protests in Rio de Janeiro, which will host the Olympic Games in 2016 and some World Cup games next year, have been among the biggest and most violent this year. Protesters there have called for investigations into spending on the sports stadiums and police abuse, and continued to do so on Saturday.

The dwindling numbers are frustrating some participants. One protester said the turnout was too small in the Brasilia, where just a few months ago large crowds stormed the foreign ministry. “It was a flop,” he said.

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