V for Vinegar

For my friends who don't know what is going on in Brazil: We thought that our government was democratic. A hike in the public transport fare was announced. We were not happy and protested against it, like people in democracies do.

The police met the peaceful protesters with tear gas and rubber bullets. The media referred to the protesters as vandals, and to the protest as 'useless anarchy'. A school teacher not involved in the protest was hit in the eye by a rubber bullet. Further protests with people chanting "non-violence" and carrying flowers were once again met with tear gas and rubber bullets. The last straw happened when a journalist was arrested for possessing vinegar, to ease the effect of tear gas.

It would be ridiculous weren't it tragic. What happened to our democracy? It's as if it's 1964 and we're under dictatorship again.

We cannot accept a police state that responds with violence to a legitimate exercise of citizenship. We weren't aware of it, but we too need a spring.  We didn't know it, but we are Istanbul. We are Cairo, and we are also Tunis. We are 1968 Prague.

We are the people in the streets rightfully defending our freedom to protest.

Occupy Brazil is ongoing.