police arrest at least twenty protesters during a demonstration in são paulo, brazil

by Tim Phillips

On June 2, transportation authorities in São Paulo increased bus fares from approximately $1.40 to $1.50. Yesterday more than 10,000 people responded by marching through the city’s streets for six hours, briefly blocking the city’s main road, and allegedly setting fire to at least one bus and breaking the windows of nine banks and numerous bus shelters. Security forces arrested at least 20 of the protesters and used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the rest. According to today’s CNN article,

Under heavy rain, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to protest planned increases in public transportation fares in Sao Paulo. The protests were led by a group known as Free Fare, which advocates free or cheaper public transportation. Police in riot gear clashed with protesters and set off tear gas…

This was the third such protest in less than a week. There have also been protests against an increase in public transportation fares in Rio de Janeiro. More than 30 people were arrested there on Monday.