{"id":18840,"date":"2014-10-25T09:10:13","date_gmt":"2014-10-25T12:10:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rioonwatch.org\/?p=18840"},"modified":"2017-07-16T21:54:07","modified_gmt":"2017-07-17T00:54:07","slug":"global-reference-local-resistance-protesters-take-the-streets-against-mare-museum-eviction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=18840","title":{"rendered":"Global Reference, Local Resistance: Protesters Take the Streets Against Mar\u00e9 Museum Eviction [SLIDESHOW]"},"content":{"rendered":"

Residents of Complexo da Mar\u00e9<\/a>, artists, collaborators and supporters of Museu da Mar\u00e9<\/a>\u00a0marched on Saturday October 18 against the eviction of the museum. Protesters blocked part of the Avenida Brasil highway and voiced their support for the museum with\u00a0dances, performances, music, and poems.<\/p>\n

After seven years providing an acclaimed space for historic preservation, culture and art in Complexo da Mar\u00e9, Museu da Mar\u00e9 has been threatened with eviction<\/a>, despite ongoing resistance and thousands of petition signatures.<\/p>\n

Global reference, local resistance<\/h3>\n

The museum’s\u00a0protest program\u00a0was planned and promoted during the weeks following the annual \u201cWeek of Resistance<\/a>\u201d event earlier this month. Organizers reached out to residents and artists of the community and elsewhere.<\/p>\n

Before the march itself, artists created new works celebrating the museum. At the same time, a publication, Guide to the Media and Human Rights<\/a>,<\/em> was launched and debated<\/a> in the museum’s gallery.\u00a0As part of the Democratization of Communication in Rio de Janeiro Week, collectives including Coletivo Intervozes\u00a0(Intervoices Collective), F\u00f3rum de Juventudes RJ\u00a0(Youth Forum Rio de Janeiro) and F\u00f3rum de Manguinhos\u00a0(Manguinhos Forum) supported the museum\u2019s cause.<\/p>\n

\"Ballet<\/a><\/p>\n

The march set off\u00a0at 4 pm\u00a0on Saturday October 18. The protest welcomed all kinds of artistic expression, from the\u00a0fanfare band Siderais <\/i>to the museum\u2019s capoeira group. There were poetry readings, passinho<\/em><\/a>\u00a0dancing and performances by theater group Grupo Gestos\u00a0and\u00a0an intervention Cidades Invis\u00edveis<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Walking alongside cars, armed soldiers and military jeeps\u2013used by\u00a0the army occupying Complexo da Mar\u00e9<\/a>\u2013the march peacefully and loudly reached Parque Uni\u00e3o<\/a> square. The microphone was passed to several people who wanted to speak. They made speeches, read texts and\u00a0sang funk songs recalling past and current fights against favela stigma<\/a> and human rights violations<\/a>.<\/p>\n

One of the poems referred directly to\u00a0Libra Group<\/a>, the company that is threatening the museum with eviction. The poem, by Mario Chagas, suggests that the company doesn’t understand the significance of the museum to the community:<\/p>\n

“Time is short\u00a0<\/span>
the Libra roars\u00a0<\/span>
and the struggle is now\u00a0<\/span><\/span>

We need to explore\u00a0<\/span>
and you can’t explore without memory\u00a0<\/span>
the Mar\u00e9 Museum is our ship<\/span>

of dreams, of desires\u00a0<\/span>
of guts, of our futures\u00a0<\/span>
with the right to adventure and freedom\u00a0<\/span>

Libra doesn’t understand exploring<\/span>
Libra doesn’t understand memory\u00a0<\/span>
Libra doesn’t understand the ship or freedom\u00a0<\/span>

Libra (hear our plea<\/span>)\u00a0<\/span>
let the Mar\u00e9 Museum explore in peace”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

By\u00a0Mario Chagas, \u201cMuseu da Mar\u00e9 livre\u201d<\/em>\u00a0(Mar\u00e9 Museum free)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Different voices, same love for Museu da Mar\u00e9<\/h3>\n

People of all ages, families, students and artists<\/a> mixed harmoniously in the event. Although the opinions and origins of the people differed, they all had one thing in common: their love for Museu da Mar\u00e9.<\/p>\n

Elane Povoli, 43, poet and visual artist, working as a civil servant, was one of the artists who created new art during the protest:<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were objects donated by residents for the construction of the exhibition, but also of use to them in case they needed to borrow them. It\u2019s the effect of art: this appropriation, taking objects out of their daily use and transforming them into works of art.<\/p>\n

“Legally this museum has many points in its favor: it\u2019s a project of unquestionable importance, for theoretical and affective underpinnings, for the relation that has been built with the residents. If this were\u00a0to end, it would be tragic, a murdering of the very population, metaphorically.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Jiuliano Iris, in art Juv\u00e1 Piris, 38, member of the fanfare band Siderais, played music during the protest to support the museum:<\/p>\n

\u201cMy hope is that this space won\u2019t be vacated, or that another place will be given for the museum to keep existing. The State didn\u2019t fulfill its role, meeting people’s needs. And even when it\u2019s a popular initiative, and politicians didn\u2019t have to do anything–they should want to defend this space even more because the work was done already, they don\u2019t have to do anything but defend it.<\/p>\n

“I find it very important that these kinds of actions involving collectives get together without politics, but come together mainly for a cause of importance.”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Alexandra Regina Gama, 35, is a Masters student studying\u00a0Education, Community and Social Movements.\u00a0She was visiting from Campinas, S\u00e3o Paulo and is a member of Memory Network and Social Museology of S\u00e3o Paulo:<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing an activist, I\u2019m part of movements like this, and I\u2019ve been thinking a lot about the fragility of spaces of resistance. When a community, an initiative is threatened, the feelings in the extended community\u00a0are also affected. Civil society<\/a> has proven that this territory was re-signified, that all the values\u00a0and relations that the museum has\u00a0built\u00a0exceed predictable expectations. This museum is an influence on the local and symbolic belonging of the people\u00a0that uphold its value [as a space] of culture and companionship.<\/p>\n

“[The museum] is reflecting a series of other mobilizations: when a community appropriates its space, its own territory, transforms and gives it value, this calls the attention of the real estate market and other speculators. Other interests start to override work entirely carried out by the community. It\u2019s disproportionate, the weight of an enterprise and the values it brings, over the values of the community. I hope our forces shall prevail–the force of Mar\u00e9, of Museu da Mar\u00e9 and the people who\u00a0trust this place to represent us!\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

MC PH Lima, 26, is living in S\u00e3o Gon\u00e7alo but is originally from Morro da Mineira in Catumbi, Central Rio. He\u00a0sang an acapella version of his rap \u201cO Bandido do Rio<\/em>\u201d (The Criminal from\u00a0Rio) then told us:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe role of the museum is very important, yet it\u2019s not the first fight here in the favela. In June 2013, for example, more than 10 people were killed\u00a0and the community staged<\/a>\u00a0the exact same protest that the whole of Brazil did. As the song says, ‘In the asphalt (formal city) the bullets are rubber \/ In the favelas (informal city) the bullets are real.’\u00a0Here in Mar\u00e9 the community has always mobilized a lot, including now for the retreat of the army occupying the favela.<\/p>\n

“[The museum]\u00a0is a cultural hub. At the protest, there were various cultural initiatives that were reclaiming the museum, such as capoeira, samba and theatrical representations. They look at the museum as a way of unifying, empowering and fostering culture inside the favela<\/a>. The baile funk <\/i>(funk parties) are being repressed, for example. That is a way to keep one\u2019s identity, one’s own roots in the community.<\/p>\n

“We have to wield our weapons, which are\u00a0culture and mobilization: go to the streets and face the government as equals… It\u2019s possible to have rights in the favelas, but for this it is crucial that favelados <\/i>(favela residents) return to the streets like when Amarildo<\/a> was killed, when Zez\u00e9 was killed, for the people to really obtain our rights from the government.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Legal action<\/h3>\n

Libra has failed to respond to the voices supporting the museum. Hoping to start a dialogue, the museum and Aderson Bussinger, vice-president of the Brazilian Bar Association’s Rio de Janeiro chapter (OAB-RJ), are preparing legal means of defense.<\/p>\n

To view full album see below, or click here<\/a> to see on Flickr with captions:<\/h3>\n