Anti-austerity protests that drew tens of thousands to the streets of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, turned violent tonight as protesters set fire to the Legislative Assembly.
Protesters setting Legislative Assembly in Rio on fire (AFP) #PasseLivre pic.twitter.com/VlnaFBv7by
— Kety Shapazian ?? (@KetyBrazil) June 18, 2013
Fire inside #rio state parliament #ALERJ. Several other fires outside the building. Stones thrown at windows. Police routed. #protestorj
— John (@Johnscloselook) June 18, 2013
O caos na Alerj http://t.co/sxklhaRUVi pic.twitter.com/zuoMWyoE16
— Época (@RevistaEpoca) June 18, 2013
Three police cars on fire in central Rio de Janeiro, one of them just exploded.
— Rodrigo Monteiro (@amzeratul) June 17, 2013
Stuff burning in Rio at protests – happening now ; small group of protesters behind this, majority peaceful pic.twitter.com/7wwdQt35Wh
— Gabriel Elizondo (@elizondogabriel) June 17, 2013
car flipped, fire started. scenes in Rio: pic.twitter.com/zmPCfyrKhM
— David Ferreira (@Igualitarista) June 17, 2013
20,000 reportedly protesting in #Rio tonight. We were in the building behind this cop when the photo was taken. pic.twitter.com/xjK6lGWQ7t
— Helen Anne Travis (@helen_anne) June 18, 2013
Someone set a car on fire outside the restaurant. It made a hissing sound as it burned. #rio
— Helen Anne Travis (@helen_anne) June 18, 2013
We watched the protestors throw firecrackers and rip down the barricades. The cops appeared to let those who wanted to leave pass by. #rio
— Helen Anne Travis (@helen_anne) June 18, 2013
A one-minute video of explosives being thrown during the #rio protests. http://t.co/fIMj2SkGGZ
— Helen Anne Travis (@helen_anne) June 18, 2013
Other photos showed massive crowds filling the streets. News reports attribute the protests to a 10-cent hike in public transportation fares, which was apparently the straw that broke the camel’s back.
@Travis_Waldron @NatashaVianna late to this but is this specific to a sporting event or something else?
— physical not social distancing (@reftpt) June 17, 2013
https://twitter.com/Travis_Waldron/status/346774922393186304
https://twitter.com/NatashaVianna/status/346775374958583808
This is what happened in Rio – and elsewhere in Brazil – after public transportation fare hike (via @flaviofachel): pic.twitter.com/DNAuy14nDy
— Fernanda Santos (@ByFernandaS) June 17, 2013
Wow, Rio protest is BIG: https://t.co/SpCJrmt9tz
— James B (@piercepenniless) June 17, 2013
Another stunning pic RT @USDayofRage 100.000 people on the streets of Rio De Janeiro, #Brazil | #occupybrazil | pic.twitter.com/3DfVFG9Y4Q
— jasoncherkis (@jasoncherkis) June 18, 2013
100K people in the street of Rio. Protesting, in part, spending on World Cup instead of schools and hospitals. http://t.co/iVNovbcUGI #wow
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) June 18, 2013
Similar protests are taking place in Sao Paulo and Brasilia, where protesters scaled the National Congress.
[FOTO] Milhares de pessoas protestam em São Paulo http://t.co/4hyOpfmD62 pic.twitter.com/oHC9kp84lz
— Época (@RevistaEpoca) June 17, 2013
Hour ago MT @AnonymousDCSP: #Brazil update: This is the National Congress in Brasilia right now | http://t.co/nRGkZsmHZP
— Bassem Sabry باسم (@Bassem_Sabry) June 18, 2013
https://twitter.com/PNany2/status/346796964547002369
A Manifestação em Brasília teve fim. O meu humilde muito obrigada aos brasilienses pela linda imagem da invasão do Congresso, sem violência!
— fabes (@lovesterblitch) June 18, 2013
Join the conversation as a VIP Member