2019 student protests in Brazil
The 2019 Student Protests in Brazil were a series of popular demonstrations and protests led by youths and students between May and October 2019. They were the first major protest against the Jair Bolsonaro government. Due to cuts in education funding from basic to higher levels, and freezes in science and technology development, there was a halt in higher and basic education, accompanied by protests led by students, union members, and education professionals. [1]
Context
At the end of April, the new administration of the Ministry of Education (MEC), under the command of Abraham Weintraub, announced the blocking of 30% in the funding of federal educational institutions, impacting 60 universities and nearly 40 institutes nationwide. Initially, the minister announced cuts to UFF, UFBA, and UnB, which he claimed were "making a mess". This statement angered researchers and was seen unfavorably by government officials. Subsequently, the cuts were extended to all federal universities. According to the National Association of Directors of Federal Institutions of Higher Education (Andifes), the funding contingency reached 20% (affecting maintenance, cleaning, security, and other services), and 90% of the investment budget (covering costs for work, renovations, and construction). The government considered these costs discretionary expenses, not mandatory, with the block representing approximately 3.5% of the total budget, and intended to be released after September. In May, the MEC announced it was also considering "decentralizing" investments in philosophy and sociology courses, which sparked a counter-proposal manifesto signed by representatives from world-renowned universities, such as Harvard, Yale, MIT, Oxford, Cambridge, Sorbonne, Columbia, and Berkeley. The minister of education was summoned to Congress to explain the cuts, after a favorable vote by 307 deputies against 82. This session coincided with the protests taking place in Brazil.
Protests
On May 15, a deputy from Bolsonaro's allied base, Captain Wagner, reported that the president told the minister there would be no budget cut, implying a government reversal, a common occurrence in its early days. Later, at a hearing in the Chamber of Deputies, the minister stated that Bolsonaro had spoken to him, not the other way around, and that the cuts would occur. Wagner disputed this, saying the government itself had started the rumor, and reversed it.
University students protested with strikes on May 30. Organizers estimated that the demonstrations spread to 183 cities in 22 states, plus the Federal District, with approximately two million protesters. An estimate by G1 reported demonstrations in 136 cities in 25 states plus the Federal District. Demonstrations in Salvador and Brasília began in the morning, with organizers estimating attendance of 40,000 and 30,000, respectively. In the afternoon, demonstrations took place in Recife, Pernambuco (estimated 100,000 protesters) and São Luís, Maranhão (estimated 30,000 protesters). Most demonstrations occurred in the late afternoon and early evening, as in Rio de Janeiro (estimated 100,000 at Candelária, marching to Cinelândia) and São Paulo (estimated 300,000 at Largo da Batata, marching to Avenida Paulista).[2]
On June 14, widespread anti-government protests and general strikes halted social life and caused significant disruption. Many were injured in the ensuing clashes. Further demonstrations were called in response to the May 30 protests. These demonstrations occurred through a general strike coordinated by labor unions, unifying student and worker movements. By 8 pm, 189 cities in 26 states and the Federal District reported protests. Transportation systems in 19 Brazilian capitals were affected; considering other modes of transport, the total number of affected capitals reached 21. [3]
On August 13, students called for continued anti-government protests. Convoked by entities such as the National Students Union (UNE) and the Brazilian Union of Secondary Students (UBES), these protests also opposed the pension reform being debated in Congress. This was the third national mobilization against Weintraub's funding restrictions. (The June 14 protests were considered secondary to the general strike.) In Brasília, Minister of Justice and Public Security Sérgio Moro authorized the use of the National Force to protect the Esplanada dos Ministérios. Organizers estimated 1.5 million attendees across 205 cities in all states and the Federal District. In São Paulo, organizers estimated 100,000 protesters on Avenida Paulista and 35,000 in Salvador. [4]
Demonstrations were planned for September 7, Brazil's Independence Day. On September 3, President Jair Bolsonaro encouraged people to take to the streets wearing green and yellow to "show the world" that "the Amazon is ours", amid the international crisis caused by Amazon forest fires. In response, the UNE, drawing parallels with ex-president Fernando Collor's request, urged protesters to wear black to symbolize mourning over the Amazon crisis and the education situation. On October 2nd and 3rd, the UNE Executive Board called for 48 hours of national mobilization. [citation needed]
See also
- 2013 protests in Brazil
- 2014 protests in Brazil
- 2015-2016 protests in Brazil
- 2017 Brazilian general strike
References
- ↑ "Students protest across Brazil over Jair Bolsonaro's sweeping cuts to education". The Guardian. 30 May 2019.
- ↑ "Students, teachers across Brazil protest Bolsonaro's education cuts". France24. 31 May 2019.
- ↑ "Brazil cities paralysed as Bolsonaro faces first general strike". France24. 14 June 2019.
- ↑ "Thousands protest in Brazil against Bolsonaro's education cuts". Al Jazeera. 14 August 2019.
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