Brazil rises up for free speech in 40 national demonstrations

40 Brazilian cities saw mass demonstrations on June 18, with broad-based, diverse participation. The “Freedom Marches” were a response to a brutal police crackdown on São Paulo’s Marijuana March on May 21. The Freedom March organizers used Facebook to coordinate a march in response in São Paulo, and then all across the nation. Global Voices has excellent coverage in several languages:

Quando a tropa de choque bateu nos escudos e, em coro, gritou CHOQUE! a Marcha pela Liberdade de Expressão do último sábado se tornou muito maior. Não em número de pessoas, mas em importância, em significado.

Foram liminares, tiros, estilhaços, cacetadas, gases e prisões sem sentido. Um ataque direto, cru, registrado por centenas de câmeras, corpos e corações. Muita gente acha que maconheiros foram reprimidos.

Engano…

Naquele 21 de maio, houve uma única vítima: a liberdade de todos.

Google Translate:

When the riot police beat their shields, and in chorus shouted SHOCK! the March for Freedom of Expression on the last Saturday became much greater. Not in number of people, but in importance in meaning.

Injunctions were, shot, shrapnel, clubbed, gas and arrests meaningless. A direct attack, raw, recorded by hundreds of cameras, bodies and hearts. Many people believe that marijuana users were repressed.

Cheating …

At May 21, there was only one victim: the freedom of all.

Brazil: 40 Cities Make the Freedom March

(Thanks, Gmoke!)

(Image: André Rodrigues/Tudo de Fotografia)