Banner on Parkinson Building (Leeds) steps in solidarity with Brazil's protests
Boca | 22.10.2013 08:56 | Repression | Social Struggles | World
Today a huge banner appeared on the steps of Parkinson Building (University of Leeds) proclaiming “Freedom for Political Prisoners.” The group “Solidarity and Action Mobilization with Brazil Activists - Leeds” (SAMBA_Leeds) prepared this action in order to bring to the public attention the current violation of human rights occurring in Brazil as well as the group’s support and solidarity with the occurring popular protests. In particular they are calling for the immediate release of the people unjustifiably arrested during the protest on the 15th of October (300 arrested, 12 still in jail on 21st October) and the end of the violent state repression of a genuine and heavily supported popular movement.
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International solidarity with Brazil's people: Freedom to political prisoners! Stop the loss of civil rights!
We are shouting in support and solidarity to Brazil's people! Since June they are millions on the streets expressing their discontent with many historical social problems and injustices of the country. As an answer, on the 15th of October the state arrested around 300 brave political protesters all across the country. Brazilian government: the world is watching you! Brazilian activists: towards the construction of people's power! Freedom to the political prisoners! Stop the loss of civil rights!
The people of Brazil are under attack. Since last June dozens of demonstrations took millions to the streets. A new series of mass protests have taken place in the country after 30th September, when Rio de Janeiro’s military police violently beat peaceful teachers and supporters (many of them students). The biggest protests were on 7th (more than 50,000 on the streets) and 15th October (more than 70,000). Solidarity marches took place on these dates in other cities, such as São Paulo, Brasília, Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre, and Recife. On the other hand, the government’s answer, has been criminalizing people's social struggle by implementing a state of exception. Between other things, we are seeing dozens of arbitrary arrests, restrictions of information freedom and right to public encounter, and massive and irresponsible use of tear gas, pepper spray, rubber and even real bullets against the protesters.
In this context, a huge increase of violent state repression is a symptom of a government that is trying to suppress the demands of the people. Firstly, the people are against the implementation of the profit logic and the apparently infinite scrapping of the public education system – that only increases the huge social gap in the country. Secondly, these are voices shouting for a deep social change. However, on 15th October more than 300 people were arrested all over the country, mostly in completely unjustified situations (seated on stairs, walking back to their homes, watching the demonstration). Among the arrested are elementary teachers, school and university students and researchers, independent and main stream journalists, and many other people that just believe in people's power to construct social change and justice. In Rio de Janeiro alone, 84 people were jailed, 20 of them under 18 years old. They are at risk of being charged with up to 8 years in prison, some under new terrorism legislation imposed on the people due to the forthcoming, widely criticized, mega-events (FIFA World Cup 2014, Olympic Games 2016).
Solidarity is needed! Letters and public statements of support to the movement and against the criminalisation of the social struggle, fund raising for those arrested, information sharing about what is happening, and any other kind of solidarity and public action are very important at this moment! Please document and publicise your actions as widely as possible to show the international support for this struggle towards the construction of people's power!
SAMBA_Leeds (UK)
Solidarity and Action Mobilization with Brazil Activists – Leeds
We are shouting in support and solidarity to Brazil's people! Since June they are millions on the streets expressing their discontent with many historical social problems and injustices of the country. As an answer, on the 15th of October the state arrested around 300 brave political protesters all across the country. Brazilian government: the world is watching you! Brazilian activists: towards the construction of people's power! Freedom to the political prisoners! Stop the loss of civil rights!
The people of Brazil are under attack. Since last June dozens of demonstrations took millions to the streets. A new series of mass protests have taken place in the country after 30th September, when Rio de Janeiro’s military police violently beat peaceful teachers and supporters (many of them students). The biggest protests were on 7th (more than 50,000 on the streets) and 15th October (more than 70,000). Solidarity marches took place on these dates in other cities, such as São Paulo, Brasília, Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre, and Recife. On the other hand, the government’s answer, has been criminalizing people's social struggle by implementing a state of exception. Between other things, we are seeing dozens of arbitrary arrests, restrictions of information freedom and right to public encounter, and massive and irresponsible use of tear gas, pepper spray, rubber and even real bullets against the protesters.
In this context, a huge increase of violent state repression is a symptom of a government that is trying to suppress the demands of the people. Firstly, the people are against the implementation of the profit logic and the apparently infinite scrapping of the public education system – that only increases the huge social gap in the country. Secondly, these are voices shouting for a deep social change. However, on 15th October more than 300 people were arrested all over the country, mostly in completely unjustified situations (seated on stairs, walking back to their homes, watching the demonstration). Among the arrested are elementary teachers, school and university students and researchers, independent and main stream journalists, and many other people that just believe in people's power to construct social change and justice. In Rio de Janeiro alone, 84 people were jailed, 20 of them under 18 years old. They are at risk of being charged with up to 8 years in prison, some under new terrorism legislation imposed on the people due to the forthcoming, widely criticized, mega-events (FIFA World Cup 2014, Olympic Games 2016).
Solidarity is needed! Letters and public statements of support to the movement and against the criminalisation of the social struggle, fund raising for those arrested, information sharing about what is happening, and any other kind of solidarity and public action are very important at this moment! Please document and publicise your actions as widely as possible to show the international support for this struggle towards the construction of people's power!
SAMBA_Leeds (UK)
Solidarity and Action Mobilization with Brazil Activists – Leeds
Boca
Comments
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Most prisoners out
22.10.2013 16:34
But solidarity is still needed against the general climate of state repression via new laws and the on the streets violence of the police.
MR
I'm in brazilian fight for freedom
22.10.2013 20:27
Alékos
Homepage:
https://www.facebook.com/canalolho?fref=ts
SAMBA contact?
22.10.2013 21:05
Are there any other localities for this solidarity work? Would be keen to contact folks working on this issue.
BTW...terrible acronym though as the struggle and the arrests is wider than 'activists' which is what makes it so amazing and complex. Plus Samba although widely popular culturally is a bit of a cliche esp if you think that Brazil has many many regionally popular musics esp in places less famous than Rio but even more poverty stricken.
MR
Info from Rio arrests
23.10.2013 08:09
On Monday, 21 October, the Brazilian Judiciary denied a motion for the release of activists Victor Ribeiro and Daniela Soledad. The defense’s arguments were not heard; instead, judges relied on the presumed veracity of the testimony of the arresting officers of the Rio de Janeiro state Military Police. The officers’ testimony simply holds that Ribeiro and Soledad were in close proximity to a group that allegedly set fire to a personnel cabin near a bus stop. Neither Ribeiro nor Soledad has been identified as an arsonist, and when arrested, police did not find any incriminating objects (such as fuel or matches) on either of their persons.
The motion for the activists’ release includes complete documentation of their places of residence and work, as well as proof of that each lacks a criminal record. Under Brazilian law, this should be sufficient for their temporary release. Yet the judge responsible for their case ordered the activists held in preventive imprisonment, “so as to guarantee the preservation of public order.”
It is important to emphasize that preventive imprisonment is used in cases where there is clear evidence that the defendants prevent a flight risk or threaten to somehow impede the judicial process. For example, preventive imprisonment was declared recently for the Military Police officers under investigation for the torture, disappearance, and presumed murder of favela resident Amarildo de Souza, as these officers were accused of coercing witnesses. In the cases of Victor Ribeiro and Daniela Soledad, however, nothing other than an abstract concept of “public order” suggests that either would attempt to interfere with the judicial process.
Lawyers with the Institute of Human Rights Defenders (DDH) presented a Habeas Corpus brief on Tuesday, 22 October.
Victor Ribeiro is a documentary filmmaker whose most recent production, “Distopia 021,” denounces government abuses in the revitalization of Rio de Janeiro’s port district in anticipation of international mega-events. The film (in Portuguese) can be seen here:
MR
Homepage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87VXFGWGv0w
RE: SAMBA contact?
23.10.2013 16:54
(We know that is not a "safe" email, but anyway it was the fastest that we could managed in order to do the action as soon as possible)
There are some articulations being made also in other places to show solidarity, but it seems that any other local group sensibilized by the situation could do solidarity actions too. The more the better!
About the other points raised, as a personal opinion:
- Yes, the acronym is a huge "cliche". Because of it, it has multiple blades: it easily claims attention and identifies the cause as related (initially) to Brazil (I do not know if people would recognize directly it as a Brazilian thing if we call "Maxixe", "Côco", "Jongo", or even "Forró"); it reinforces an stereotype and regional differentiation (well pointed, btw!); it resignifies the word, pointing that it could mean other things too. But well: we have to assume some risk and to choose something, right?
- The point about activists: it is all about the reference that one takes (the idea of activism and/or who is becoming what). For me it seems that many kinds of social engagement with political purposes could be understood as activism - even for the right, why not? But the fantastic thing, for me, is that many "normal" people are exactly becoming socio-politically engaged when they are going to the streets and creating new political groups. In this sense, it seems to me that they are becoming activists (and radical left ones!).
Cheers!
b.