Agents of the Military Police, with the support of the Municipal Guard, took an action to vacate a building in downtown Rio de Janeiro this Sunday (07). Tear gas and pepper spray pumps were used to remove people from the building. 
The occupation was coordinated by the fighting movement in the neighborhoods, villages and favelas (MLB), which claims that the property belongs to the Union’s Secretariat of Heritage and has been abandoned for over 15 years. According to the MLB, 120 families tried to take shelter on the scene early this morningwith about 30 children.
Videos posted on the organization’s profile on Instagram show occupants by removing debris from the building and organizing beds and a day care center. The images also show that the building was surrounded by the police shortly thereafter and that the people left the place under the orders of the agents, among the gas, including children and many elderly. Some people got sick because of the substance.
According to the City Hall, the building was vacated because “soon the works of the Rio Africa Cultural Center begin, which will deal with the African diaspora for Brazil, to value Afro culture and will be implemented in front of the Cais do Valongo”.
Assault
Federal Deputy Tarcísio Mota (PSOL-RJ) and State Representative Professor Josemar (PSOL), who accompanied the operation and tried to prevent the eviction of families, denounces that they were beaten by agents of the Municipal Guard. Parliamentarians posted in a video in which Josemar is pushed by an agent during an argument and both are hit by pepper spray jets.
The Municipal Secretariat of Public Order, to which the Municipal Guard is subordinate, did not comment on the complaint of parliamentarians. Mayor Eduardo Paes reposed the video of parliamentarians, congratulating the Military Police and the Municipal Guard. He also said that the occupation is irregular and done by rods and praised respect for law and order.
The Federal Government Union’s Heritage Secretariat reported that a part of the area, in fact, belongs to the Union, but the place where the City Hall Cultural Center will be installed is privately owned. He also said that he is following the situation and seeking more information from local authorities.
“The area that belongs to the Union is one of 72 properties made available by MGI, to present proposals to the Ministry of Cities Program – Entities of the Ministry of Cities. Real estate are located in the five regions of the country and have the capacity to build about 8,000 popular houses,” the Ministry of Management and Innovation, to which the SPU is linked.
