I find it really interesting that the protests in Brazil began over a fare hike in public transportation. It seems that the protests have become a way for people to vent their frustrations with a government that has prioritized funding two huge sporting events at the expense of social servies. When will New Yorkers follow the lead of people in São Paulo?
Here is a bit from this article from Vice Magazine:
“During the Brazilian National Free Fare Fight Day in 2012, a mass demonstration against the rising cost of public transportation, the Movement for the Free Pass (MPL) in São Paulo warned that if public transport fares went up, they would bring the city to a halt. Well, the fare went up 0.20 Brazian real (about $0.08) on June 1st of this year, so MLP called for a protest as promised. Since the first protest on June 6th, Sao Paulo’s main streets have played host to numerous violent clashes between police and students. There were three more marches in the weeks that followed.”
For the full article please follow this link: