Demonstrations marked Labor Day, celebrated today (1st). The acts are divided between against and in favor of the government.
In Rio de Janeiro, protesters call for improvements in employment conditions and wages in Brazil. At Aterro do Flamengo, in the South Zone of Rio, the act in defense of workers’ rights was convened by unions and organizations.
Also in the South Zone of Rio, in Copacabana, there was an act in favor of President Jair Bolsonaro. In Niterói, there was also another pro-government demonstration, with the presence of federal deputy Daniel Silveira (PTB-RJ).
Brasilia
In Brasília, protesters occupied the lawn in front of the National Congress, on the Esplanada dos Ministérios, and walked along with President Jair Bolsonaro – who participated in the event for about 10 minutes. Bolsonaro did not make speeches, but broadcast images on his social networks.
Sao Paulo
In São Paulo, Labor Day events were held at Praça Charles Miller, in the Pacaembu district, where a stage was set up to receive union representatives, guests and artists. The meeting started around 10 am.
The speeches and presentations began in the morning. Among the issues addressed at the demonstration, the workers present called for policies to value the minimum wage, generate income and employment and expand social rights, including for self-employed and app workers.
Avenida Paulista was closed to receive pro-government protesters. Protesters call for the defense of freedom of expression.
Policing and SSP
The São Paulo Public Security Secretariat (SSP) reported that 840 military police will act in the acts on Avenida Paulista and Praça Charles Miller, with a special policing scheme, in addition to the regular policing of the capital.
For this, patrolling will be intensified from the early hours on site and also in the vicinity of Metro stations. In the rest of the capital and state, preventive and ostensible policing is also prepared to guarantee the safety of the population.
Also according to the SSP, the actions will be monitored by the Olho de Águia system, through fixed and mobile cameras, motolink and body cams, and monitored directly from the Command and Control Room installed in the PM Operations Center (Copom), and the Territorial police stations will also be prepared to serve the population and quickly record all occurrences, if necessary.
A personal search is also foreseen and backpacks must be inspected due to the prohibition of carrying objects that could harm the lives of those present at the demonstrations, the general population and the police.
Labor Day
Labor Day is a date celebrated in several countries around the world and, in Brazil, it is a national holiday. The day commemorates a workers’ strike that took place in Chicago, in the United States, in 1886, for better working conditions. Because of this mobilization, Labor Day became a milestone in the struggle for labor rights.
