{"id":21243,"date":"2015-04-03T14:52:12","date_gmt":"2015-04-03T17:52:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rioonwatch.org\/?p=21243"},"modified":"2015-04-03T15:01:29","modified_gmt":"2015-04-03T18:01:29","slug":"vila-autodromo-residents-halt-construction-at-olympic-site-in-protest-against-evictions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=21243","title":{"rendered":"Vila Aut\u00f3dromo Residents Halt Construction at Olympic Site in Protest Against Evictions [SLIDESHOW]"},"content":{"rendered":"

With 500 days to go until the start of the Rio de Janeiro 2016\u00a0Olympic Games<\/a>, residents of Vila Aut\u00f3dromo<\/a> took to the street to protest against the City\u2019s latest decree of eminent domain<\/a> to list 58 houses<\/a> for forced\u00a0eviction<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Supported by the\u00a0Popular Committee on the World Cup and Olympics<\/a>, in the early hours of the morning residents declared: \u201cToday, the protest by blockading the workers\u2019 and trucks\u2019 entrance to the Olympic Park represents the resistance of dozens of families who will not leave their houses for a one monthlong\u00a0mega-event<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

After creating a barricade from the rubble of destroyed houses, the 35 protesters, dressed in S.O.S Vila Aut\u00f3dromo shirts, marched onto the main road, stopping traffic with banners and chanting: \u201cOur fight is every day, to guarantee the right to housing.\u201d<\/p>\n

The protest is a reaction to Mayor Eduardo Paes\u2019 latest declaration<\/a> on March 19 that 58 houses will be taken for public use\u2014a landmark decision that is at odds with\u00a0the previous ground-breaking policy of negotiating and offering market-rate compensation<\/a>\u00a0to residents and promising to allow anyone who wanted to stay to remain<\/a> in the community, which would then be smaller and receive upgrades.<\/p>\n

Vila Aut\u00f3dromo-born resident Jota, 27, emphasized\u00a0the importance of events like this: \u201cWhen they talk about the Olympics, they talk about this fantastic, magical, beautiful world, but they do not show what is going on here\u2014families being destroyed and taken out of their homes, some by force and some by the promise of easy money.\u201d<\/p>\n

After fighting eviction for 20 years, Vila Aut\u00f3dromo\u2019s past\u00a0population of 3,000 now stands at 150 families.<\/p>\n

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

A statement from the protesters emphasized that \u201cmarketed\u00a0as the road to economic and social development, the Olympics has represented the loss of our homes, of our lives in the community, our history and dignity.\u201d<\/p>\n

The discourse amongst the protesters focused on criticism of the city\u2019s internationally lauded<\/a> program of offering market-rate compensation, a policy that was brought into question by academics at MIT<\/a> last month. As Jane Nascimento, long-term resident and activist explained, this is \u201canother species of violence: I can, I can, I can, I can. I am the economic power<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Representatives of Coletivo Rua<\/a>, present at the protest\u00a0to demonstrate solidarity, emphasized that now the resistance in Vila Aut\u00f3dromo is a fight between the economic power of the City and the people. It is a fight \u201cfor a more just society, a society for the people and not for money,\u201d they said.\u00a0\u201cOut with capital, out with Paes, out with the Olympic committee. The people will stay because this is the place of the people who built it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inacia Passos, a community resident for 30 years, echoed the feeling: \u201cI do not have a For Sale sign, and the law gives me a right to remain, so my right has to count. If I want to stay, the law gives me this right.\u201d Despite her legal entitlement<\/a>, she retains little real hope of a Vila Aut\u00f3dromo community still existing in 2016.<\/p>\n

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