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Carnival, samba and...pies at the World Social Forum

Lena La Iena | 04.02.2002 22:51

Porto Alegre (Brazil)
Brasilian carnival invade VIPs Hall at the Wold Social Forum.

Monday 04/02/02

A colorful samba band of about 100 people invaded the official site of WSF playing drums, dancing, and chanting slogans. Many people joined the carnivalesque march that passed through the patio of the university heading for the VIPs hall...where the fun kicked off!

The samba band came across security staff who were looking after the "special" room. Bouncers didn't manage to stop the band that in a very short time broke into the room startling people who where in there and who were wondering what the protest was about, given that there where no VIPs in the room. The demonstrators explained to the puzzled audience that the existence of a VIP Hall consolidated the hierarchical and exclusive nature of the Forum.

The group invaded the hall dancing and "liberating" food and drinks that were distributed to demonstrators and supporters. All the papers in the room were thrown around together with glasses of water that wet those present who -after 15 minutes- got out of the hall and managed to attract people's attention.

Demonstrators and supporters chanted slogans against political parties, kept on playing drums, and pulled the sign "VIPs HALL" off the door. The carnival went on until people left the hall spontaneously.

Lena La Iena