04/02/02
Porto Alegre-Brazil

On Tuesday 04/02/02 a samba band of about 100 people invaded the official site of the World Social Forum playing drums, dancing, and chanting slogans. Many supporters 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 room. Bouncers didn't manage to stop the samba 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. 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 hall 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.

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

Meanwhile, in another room of the university that is hosting the official forum, a group of activists threw two pies at a French minister who was giving a talk on policies for young people.