Their story begins on mid July 2002 when a group of a few hundred families squatted an abandoned urban area in Osasco, near Sao Paulo, Brazil. The 50 hectares area in a fancy neighborhood used as a clandestine garbage field was soon occupied by ten thousand poor people living in simple tents. The city government and the rich neighbors immediately started a campaign accusing them of stealing land and bringing thiefs and drug dealers to the neighborhood. After a 5 months campaign, they were evicted. The owner of the area and the city government brought bulldozers protected by riot police who violently destroyed people's houses. One could see workers, women with children and the elderly crying over their destroyed houses filled with poor furniture and their personal possesions.

Osasco camp evicted. Bulldozers destroy houses.

The homeless managed to get a deal with the state government and were transferred to a state unused area in Guarulhos - still near Sao Paulo but over 20 miles away from their former houses and jobs. But once the buses transferring them arrived, they had again to face the police. The city government of Guarulhos (controlled by the PT, the "Worker's" Party) had called the city police to prevent them from getting into the area. City government argued that the city has no structure to host the families and that their transferring violated urban legislation. After long negotiations they managed to get in.

Building the new camp in Guarulhos.

But the city government went to the courts and a judge just decided for a new dramatic eviction, due to next Monday, January the 6th. The homeless have no option but to resist. Riot police will arrive early in the morning and people fear a massacre as families can't leave because they simply have nowhere to go. Local activists are mobilizing to join the homeless. International activists are called to put pressure on authorities.

What you can do:

You can send emails to the following authorities:

Governador do Estado de São Paulo
São Paulo State Governor
Mr. Geraldo Alckmin
Email: saopaulo@sp.gov.br

Secretaria de Justiça e Defesa da Cidadania do Estado de São Paulo
State Secretary for Justice and Citizenship
Mr. Alexandre Morais
Email: justica@justica.sp.gov.br

Prefeito de Guarulhos
City Mayor of Guarulhos
Mr. Elói Pietá
Email: prefeito.guarulhos@sp.gov.br

Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT)
The Worker's Party
Email: presnacional@pt.org.br