{"id":72883,"date":"2022-11-10T07:42:21","date_gmt":"2022-11-10T10:42:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=72883"},"modified":"2022-11-30T08:00:30","modified_gmt":"2022-11-30T11:00:30","slug":"march-in-rio-de-janeiros-largest-favela-rocinha-prefaced-highest-vote-share-for-lula-in-the-city-images","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=72883","title":{"rendered":"March in Rio de Janeiro’s Largest Favela, Rocinha, Prefaced Highest Vote Share for Lula in the City [PHOTO-ESSAY]"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Demonstrators take to the streets to defend Lula’s legacy in the favelas. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias\/RioOnWatch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

On Saturday afternoon, October 29, a few hours before the 2022 runoff presidential election, as then-candidate Lula marched<\/a> along Avenida Paulista in S\u00e3o Paulo, Residents of Rio de Janeiro’s largest favela, Rocinha<\/a>, came together for the \u2018Rocinha March with Lula.\u2019 The event was organized by community leaders, residents, and social movements in Rocinha. Participants gathered at the top of the favela at the Health Center on Rua Um and walked down the community along Estrada da G\u00e1vea and Via \u00c1pia to the favela entrance on Caminho do Boiadeiro.<\/h4>\n

The next day, Luiz In\u00e1cio Lula da Silva<\/a> (PT<\/a>) was elected<\/a> president with 50.9% of the national vote (60,345,999). Rocinha turned out to be the Rio neighborhood with the highest percentage of voters turning out for the now president-elect<\/a>, with 78.2%.<\/h4>\n
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Meeting point for the march at the health center on Rua Um. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias\/RioOnWatch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lula was present on Rua Um via an almost life-size photo on a wagon pushed by a resident. Red flags, as well as green and yellow flags, waved in front of the Albert Sabin Municipal Health Center<\/a> while a crowd of residents gathered to take part in the march.<\/p>\n

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Participants bring a large-scale photo of Lula to the march. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias\/RioOnWatch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to community leader Antonio Xaolin, known as Xaolin da Rocinha<\/a> and one of the community leaders who organized the march: \u201cthe aim is to convince undecided voters, and those that don\u2019t want to vote, to go and vote. As well as voting being a civic moment and expression of Brazilian identity, it\u2019s also a chance to beat this authoritarian agenda. Everyone has to participate for democracy to win. In the first round, Rocinha voted 70% for Lula and now in the runoff we want 80%, 90%.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Xaolin da Rocinha, one of the community leaders who organized the march for Lula in Rocinha. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias\/RioOnWatch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to O Globo<\/em><\/a>, Lula received 64.08% of votes in the 211th Electoral Zone, which encompasses the neighborhoods of G\u00e1vea<\/a>, Vidigal<\/a>, S\u00e3o Conrado<\/a>, Jardim Bot\u00e2nico<\/a> and Rocinha.<\/p>\n

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Residents show support for the march along Estrada da G\u00e1vea. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias\/RioOnWatch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once the sound car arrived, the march began. Going down Estrada da G\u00e1vea<\/a>, a red wave cut through the favela. People showed support wherever the march passed by: in their workplaces, homes or in transit, on motorcycles, buses, cars and trucks, honking horns or making an L hand gesture in support of Lula. For those present it was clear that Rocinha was with Lula.<\/p>\n

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Michel Silva, journalist and founder of community newspaper Fala Ro\u00e7a<\/em><\/a>, waves at bus passengers showing support for the march. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias\/RioOnWatch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dona Angela, a resident of the community for 20 years, came to her front door to express support for Lula. Asked about the importance of the march, she defended Lula\u2019s legacy and his importance for Afro-Brazilians and those living in peripheral areas.<\/p>\n

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Dona Angela came to her front door to show support for the march. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias\/RioOnWatch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThis march is important for people on the periphery like us black people, that live with inequality, go hungry, who live in poverty. [It\u2019s important] we be aware that only Lula will bring everything back: providing us with [access to] culture [amenities], giving us dignity and prosperity.\u201d \u2014 Dona Angela<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Rocinha residents show support for the March with Lula waving from the windows and backs of cars. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias\/RioOnWatch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Participants in the march emphasized what Lula\u2019s government did for the favela. During the march, the group passed several landmarks of his public policies in the community: a public housing complex<\/a>, the Rocinha Park Library<\/a>, the Urgent Care Unit (UPA<\/a>), the pedestrian overpass<\/a>, and the sports complex<\/a> are all projects linked to his prior government’s Growth Acceleration Program (PAC<\/a>).<\/p>\n

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Residents take to the streets to defend Lula. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias\/RioOnWatch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Despite criticism<\/a>, participants emphasized that even with the cuts<\/a> to the program, PAC brought improvements to Rocinha in housing, health, sports, and leisure.<\/p>\n

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Motorcycle passenger shows a bag with Lula’s face printed on it as he passes the march. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias\/RioOnWatch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During the march, the group passed in front of the housing complexes where speeches were made remembering past times when Lula was president.<\/p>\n

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Residents in front of the public housing complex, a PAC project. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias\/RioOnWatch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Deputy Marina do MST took part in the march. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias\/RioOnWatch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Residents made the contrast between Lula, who visited Complexo do Alem\u00e3o<\/a> at the invitation of local leaders, and President Jair Bolsonaro<\/a>, candidate for reelection, and his campaign criminalizing the favelas<\/a>.<\/p>\n

One of the banners read: \u201cThe Favela deserves respect. Rocinha with Lula 13.\u201d Next to the banner was recently elected state deputy Marina do MST<\/a> who participated in the march making a statement:<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the banner says it all: people in communities, in the favelas, need respect! Through work, employment, health, strengthening the SUS<\/a> [public health system]. Respect for women and children, and particularly for all mothers so they may have the opportunity and security of placing their children in high quality public schools and universities. And having healthy food on the table at least three times a day, for every family every day. I think here we have the representation and demonstration that people need to achieve their daily rights, in organized struggles\u2026 People organized in the countryside and in the city, in the fields and the favela.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Demonstrators take to the streets to defend Lula’s legacy in the favelas. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias\/RioOnWatch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Heading towards its final point, the event arrived at Via \u00c1pia, one of Rocinha\u2019s main access roads. With the street fairly crowded, Ant\u00f4nio Firmino took the floor to speak. A community leader and one of the founders of the Sankofa Memory and History Museum<\/a> in Rocinha, Firmino emphasized the importance of dialogue with relatives, friends, and neighbors.<\/p>\n

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Ant\u00f4nio Firmino, community leader and one of the founders of the Sankofa Memory and History Museum in Rocinha, affirms the need for the vote to turn and elect Lula to preserve democracy. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias\/RioOnWatch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cTomorrow, it\u2019s important to call one more friend and get one more person to vote 13 [for Lula]. Right now it’s fundamental to elect Luiz In\u00e1cio Lula da Silva as our president. We cannot fail. Tomorrow is the day to give continuity to democracy, and [the number of] democracy [on the ballot] is 13! So it\u2019s 13, it\u2019s Luiz In\u00e1cio Lula da Silva that we have to elect! It\u2019s democracy!\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Ant\u00f4nio Firmino, community leader and one of the founders of the Sankofa Memory and History Museum in Rocinha. Photo B\u00e1rbara Dias\/RioOnWatch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The march passed under the pedestrian overpass and ended at the entrance to Caminho do Boiadeiro. The Rocinha March with Lula made the streets lively, brought hope to those who took part and registered an important moment in the favelas\u2019 fight for democracy.<\/p>\n

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Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias\/RioOnWatch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After the vote count, the election results in the area came as no surprise to the participants of the march. Rocinha was the neighborhood with the highest vote for Lula: 78.2% of the vote<\/a>. Lula also won in other large favelas<\/a> like Alem\u00e3o, Penha, Mar\u00e9, City of God, Rio das Pedras, and Gard\u00eania Azul.<\/p>\n

Check out more photos from the Rocinha March with Lula:<\/h3>\n
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Record of this moment in which the favela fights for democracy in Rocinha. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias\/RioOnWatch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Demonstrators in front of Rocinha’s Committee for the Struggle for Democracy. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias\/RioOnWatch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Children hold Lula campaign stickers distributed during the march. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias\/RioOnWatch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A red wave travels down Rocinha defending Lula’s legacy in the favelas. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias\/RioOnWatch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Mototaxi driver makes the L sign in support of Lula in the 2022 runoff election. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias\/RioOnWatch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Residents make the L sign and wave flags in support of Lula in the 2022 runoff election. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias\/RioOnWatch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Rocinha March with Lula took over the streets to show support for Lula in the 2022 runoff election. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias\/RioOnWatch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

Support\u00a0<\/b>RioOnWatch<\/i><\/b>\u2019s tireless, critical and cutting-edge hyperlocal journalism, online community organizing meetings, and direct support to favelas\u00a0<\/b>by clicking here.<\/a><\/b><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas On Saturday afternoon, October 29, a few hours before the 2022 runoff presidential election, as then-candidate Lula marched along Avenida Paulista in S\u00e3o Paulo, Residents of Rio de Janeiro’s largest favela, […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":238,"featured_media":72910,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1288,1328,1290,2242,1332],"tags":[3496,595,416,205,2597,894,1675,2038,152,2286,374,2040,12,2042,156],"writer":[3542],"translator":[3452],"illustrator":[],"photographer":[3548],"class_list":{"0":"post-72883","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-highlight","8":"category-by-community-contributors","9":"category-civilsociety","10":"category-democracy","11":"category-photo-essays","12":"tag-2022-elections","13":"tag-elections","14":"tag-gavea","15":"tag-growth-acceleration-program-pac","16":"tag-jair-bolsonaro","17":"tag-jardim-botanico","18":"tag-lagoa","19":"tag-lula","20":"tag-participation","21":"tag-pl","22":"tag-politics","23":"tag-pt","24":"tag-rocinha","25":"tag-sao-conrado","26":"tag-south-zone","27":"writer-barbara-dias","28":"translator-staff","29":"photographer-barbara-dias"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72883","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/238"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=72883"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72883\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/72910"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=72883"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=72883"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=72883"},{"taxonomy":"writer","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fwriter&post=72883"},{"taxonomy":"translator","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftranslator&post=72883"},{"taxonomy":"illustrator","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fillustrator&post=72883"},{"taxonomy":"photographer","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fphotographer&post=72883"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}