{"id":31547,"date":"2016-08-09T13:07:55","date_gmt":"2016-08-09T16:07:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rioonwatch.org\/?p=31547"},"modified":"2016-08-10T12:22:44","modified_gmt":"2016-08-10T15:22:44","slug":"rio-residents-protest-olympics-impacts-at-exclusion-games-demonstration-video-images","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=31547","title":{"rendered":"Rio Residents Protest Olympics Impacts at “Exclusion Games” Demonstration [VIDEO | IMAGES]"},"content":{"rendered":"

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

On Friday, August 5, several hundred protesters gathered in the Saens Pe\u00f1a square in Tijuca<\/a> just hours before the Olympics opening ceremony<\/a> was due to take place in nearby Maracan\u00e3 stadium<\/a>. Hundreds more joined throughout the afternoon<\/a> as the protest proceeded towards Afonso Pena, reaching nearly\u00a01,000 attendees. The protest was the culmination of a\u00a0week-long series<\/a>\u00a0of events organized by the\u00a0Popular Committee on\u00a0the World Cup and Olympics<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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

The\u00a0Military Police<\/a> presence was intense from the beginning of the event, with heavily armed personnel, helicopters, cavalry and police cars present. Initial proceedings were calm, with the Popular Committee and police cooperating to negotiate and agree on changes to the protest’s planned route. However, on two occasions before marchers even left the square, dozens of police formed tight circles around two or three protesters, without evidence of any clear provocation or providing explanation to a tense crowd. One protester said he was using spray paint to make banners, as he had already been doing for about 15 minutes prior to the police response. A second protester, standing on a platform, threw his backpack down to his girlfriend who then found herself surrounded by officers.<\/p>\n

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

Protesters demonstrated against a\u00a0range of negative impacts felt by Rio residents due to hosting the Olympics<\/a>, from\u00a0forced evictions<\/a> to police brutality<\/a>,\u00a0the Games’ disastrous\u00a0environmental legacy<\/a>, and generalized misplaced public priorities<\/a> in spending billions on the Games when the city doesn’t meet its citizens’ basic needs. “The Exclusion Games” protest highlighted\u00a0how Rio residents\u00a0have been systematically excluded<\/a>\u00a0and have suffered rights violations<\/a> both directly and through cuts to public spending on healthcare<\/a>, education <\/a>and sanitation<\/a> while\u00a0billions have been spent on Olympic venues<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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

Jurema Gomes da Silva, a 72-year-old teacher, said that once Rio committed to hosting\u00a0the Pan-American Games in 2007<\/a> and won its bids for the 2014 World Cup<\/a> and the 2016 Olympics, she felt it was inevitable the city would follow through despite residents’ dissatisfaction. “It was always going to happen,” she said, “but right now, I am here because I am against the permanent halting of our public services. Our government has completely abandoned the poor, blacks, the general public.”<\/p>\n

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

Nina, a 17-year-old student, said she was attending the protest because “the Olympic Games are not for people who live here.” She also criticized Rio’s spending and developmental policies ahead of the Games, saying: “None of the city’s residents gain anything from this new tourist-oriented transport. I’m not happy to say this, but I’m happy to be here today to demonstrate my dissatisfaction.”<\/p>\n

During the march, a\u00a0few clashes broke out<\/a>\u00a0between the Military Police and members of\u00a0the Black Bloc<\/a>, a black-clad anarchist\u00a0group that first emerged\u00a0in Brazil during the 2013 protests<\/a>. The group\u00a0takes its name and inspiration from the\u00a01980s-era movement in East Germany that encouraged protesters to defend themselves against police repression. The movement’s 21st-century incarnation in Brazil explicitly aims to “cause damage to oppressive institutions” and is frequently accused of being “urban guerrillas<\/a>,” “excessively violent<\/a>”\u00a0and guilty of “police provocation<\/a>”\u00a0by Brazilian media.<\/p>\n

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

The event’s organizers were satisfied with the diverse and mostly peaceful participation of protesters of all backgrounds and ages. “It’s been really great,” said Larissa Lacerda, a member of\u00a0the Popular Committee\u00a0attending the protest. “Of course, there were moments of tension, but that happens at any protest.”<\/p>\n

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

The protest ended just\u00a0after\u00a06pm. In the Afonso Pena square, demonstrators had formed an informal gathering and were discussing how it had gone when, with no provocation, the\u00a0Military Police threw a flashbang grenade and\u00a0tear gas canisters at\u00a0those who were still present on site<\/a>, others were pepper sprayed and had to receive help from the Red Cross<\/a>. Using such tactics\u00a0“to disperse protesters<\/a>” is common among Rio’s Military Police. In this case the protest had\u00a0already been dispersing. The\u00a0effect was the\u00a0closing down of public space, with fearful people, protesters and non-protesters, running away. The square’s playgrounds\u00a0had been\u00a0in use\u00a0by local families at the time. Two hours later\u00a0the Olympics opening ceremony<\/a> festivities began a fifteen minute walk away at Maracan\u00e3 stadium.<\/p>\n

Watch our Video of the Protest here<\/a>:<\/h3>\n