Revolutions

June 2013 Demonstrations

Demonstrations of June 2013.

June 2013 was an unusual period for the city of São Paulo that ever since 1984 didn’t have people on the streets for a cause. The protest’s cause began with the demand for the non-raise of the bus fares, which would go from R$3 to R$3,20. Later, subjects like corruption, the World Cup in Brazil, health and quality in education were among the battle cries of the protesters.

Organized by the Movimento Passe Livre (MPL), the demonstrations had a young and politically impartial aspect to it. It is worth it to mention the importance of social medias on the movement organization. Before popular pressure, the Government retreated and the fare remained R$3.

Diretas Já na Praça da Sé

The Brazilian population used to live on a Militar Regime since 1964 and on the year of 1984 there would be indirect vote to elect a new representative. However, the population was claiming for direct elections, which would only occur after the approval of the constitutional amendment proposed by Representative Dante de Oliveira.

Diretas Já. Photo: Alfredo Rizutti /Estadão Conteúdo.

Over a million people embraced the caused and occupied the streets of Praça da Sé, on the 16^th of April of 1984, in a movement known as “Diretas Já”.
However, on the 15^th of April, the amendment wasn’t approved and, on January 15^th 1985, Tancredo Neves was elected by indirect vote. Due to a sickness he was carrying, Neves died before taking the position, which fell into the hands of vice-president José Sarney. In 1989, with the new constitution established in 1988, the population had its victory: the first direct election were carried on after two decades of dictatorship.

Revolução Constitucionalista de 1932 (Constitutional Revolution of 1932):

Constitutional Revolution of 1932.

The Revolution of 1932 was a direct consequence of the political context of 1930. At the time, the República Oligárquica was at state, characterized by the alternance of power among Paulistas and Mineiros, which constituted the elite of the country (São Paulo due to its coffee production and Minas Gerais for the cattle farming and milk production). Nevertheless, instead of Júlio Prestes taking over the Government, a coup gave powers to Getúlio Vargas from Rio Grande do Sul, which ruled in an authoritarian way. His government became known for its promise to elaborate a constitution and promote straight elections for president.

The non-fulfillment of these measures made thousands of people take over the streets of São Paulo starting on May 1932. Among the demands there was also the request of leave for the Pernambucano provisional governor João Alberto in order to appoint a Paulista provisional governor.

In this demonstrations scenario, there was a strong police repression on May 23^rd; which led to the death of four students: Martins, Miragaia, Dráusio and Camargo – MMDC, that became a symbol of the movement. The deaths led to a popular uprising and became the trigger for, starting at 9^th of July, the Revolução Constitucionalista (Constitutional Revolution). The movement lasted until October 4^th of 1932 and was marked by the Paulistas’ surrendering.

As a tribute to the victims of this civic event, the city of São Paulo began the construction of the Obelisco dos Heróis (Obelisk of Heroes) in 1947, which was inaugurated in 9^th of July in 1955, even though it was concluded in 1970. Located at Parque do Ibirapuera, the monument keeps the mortal remains of some combatants, including MMDC. Besides this, the streets 23 de maio and 9 de julho make reference to the meaningful dates of this movement.