Demonstrations: 1970–99
Explore images of protests in Brazil during the 1970s, 80s, and 90s in the second of three exhibitions about demonstrations
Ditadura militar (1977-05-05)Folha de S.Paulo
1977: Freedom
Students gather in downtown São Paulo, opposite the University of São Paulo's Law Faculty in São Francisco Square, to demonstrate against the detention of workers and students by the military regime.
Brazil was still living under the soon-to-be-repealed Institutional Act No. 5 (or AI-5), the authoritarian decree issued by the military government, which authorized censorship and political persecution, and led to opponents being detained, tortured, disappeared, and even killed.
Greve de metalúrgicos (1979-03-16)Folha de S.Paulo
1979: Torture
Military police shock-troops beat striking metalworkers with truncheons in an attempt to break up a picket line opposite the Brasilit factory, in the city of São Caetano do Sul in Greater São Paulo.
The strikers were on their fourth day of industrial action and were demanding higher pay and better working conditions.
Greve de metalúrgicos (1979)Folha de S.Paulo
1979: Enough of exploitation!
Striking metalworkers take part in a meeting at the Vila Euclides Stadium (now known as the Municipal May 1 Stadium) in the city of São Bernardo do Campo in Greater São Paulo. The strikers were on their fourth day of industrial action for better pay.
Ato em favor da anistia (1979-08-21) by Jorge AraújoFolha de S.Paulo
1979: Amnesty
A dove lands on a banner during a protest in São Paulo's Cathedral Square (Praça da Sé) on August 21, 1979. Demonstrators were calling for an amnesty for exiles and political prisoners.
Seven days later, on August 28, following a wave of protests, the Amnesty Law came into force in Brazil. Enacted by General João Figueiredo, the last military president, the new law would be key in returning the country to democracy.
Protesto (1980-08-22)Folha de S.Paulo
1980: The disappeared
Women dressed in mourning black march in downtown São Paulo, demanding a response over the disappearance of 13 Brazilians in Argentina.
The protest was held during the visit by the then Argentinian president, General Jorge Rafael Videla, to São Paulo. The Argentinian government promised to look into the matter.
Greve dos professores estaduais de São Paulo (1983-11) by Antônio MeloFolha de S.Paulo
1983: Public education
Teachers from São Paulo public schools protest on the streets of São Paulo to demand that the governor, Franco Montoro—who only took office at the beginning of the year—keep his campaign promises.
Diretas Já (1984-01-25) by Fernando SantosFolha de S.Paulo
1984: Direct Elections Now!
Thousands of people gather in Cathedral Square (Praça da Sé) in downtown São Paulo for the Direct Elections Now (Diretas Já) campaign rally, which called for a return to a direct popular vote for the Brazilian presidency.
Greve dos metalúrgicos (1984-04) by Jorge AraújoFolha de S.Paulo
1984: Operation Tortoise
Seven days after starting their Operation Tortoise slowdown, more than 20,000 Volkswagen employees gather for a meeting with union leaders in the car factory yard in São Bernardo do Campo, in Greater São Paulo.
Years earlier, in 1980, the city had been the birthplace of a strike movement that would have a huge impact on Brazil, making the leader of the São Bernardo Metalworkers Union, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a household name. He would go on to be the country's president from 2003 to 2011.
Greve de Taxistas (1986-11-25)Folha de S.Paulo
1986: Motorcade protest
Around 250 striking taxi drivers come to a standstill in República Square in downtown São Paulo, in a motorcade protest that set out from Vila Mariana in the city's South Zone. They were demanding a 60% increase in their income.
Dia Internacional da Mulher (1988-03)Folha de S.Paulo
1988: March 8
A crowd of around 5,000 women march in São Paulo to mark International Women's Day, which is celebrated on March 8 every year.
Flyers were handed out at the event saying that this was a day of struggle not celebration, and that “women, whether Black or white, young or old,” needed to unite to “build our happiness and our strength.”
Manifestação contra o racismo (1988-05-13) by Vidal CavalcanteFolha de S.Paulo
1988: Racism
On the 100th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in Brazil, Black women take part in a demonstration against racial discrimination. The event attracted around 10,000 people in downtown São Paulo.
Operários em greve (1988-11-09)Folha de S.Paulo
1988: Confrontation
More than 600 military police officers and army soldiers confront around 2,000 striking metalworkers at the Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional steelworks, in the city of Volta Redonda in Rio de Janeiro State. Three workers were killed during the confrontation.
1° Encontro das Nações Indígenas do Xingu, na cidade de Altamira, no Pará (1989-02) by Jorge AraújoFolha de S.Paulo
1989: Indigenous protest
Indigenous tribe members join environmentalists at the 1st Meeting of the Xingu Indigenous Nations in the city of Altamira, in Pará State.
With more than 600 tribe members present, the event was seeking investment in environmental conservation, support for the region's Indigenous peoples, and an end to the planned Kararaô hydroelectric dam complex. The dam—the fourth largest in the world—would be opened in 2016 under the new name Belo Monte Dam.
Estudantes pedem a saída do presidente (1992-09-15) by Eder ChiodettoFolha de S.Paulo
1992: Collor out!
Demonstrators call for the impeachment of President Fernando Collor during a protest held on Paulista Avenue in downtown São Paulo.
On December 29, Collor would resign from the presidency in an attempt to be allowed to run in future elections. However, the very next day, the Federal Senate (Senado Federal) found Collor guilty by 76 votes to 2 and barred him from holding public office for eight years.
Protesto de agentes penitenciários (1995-06-27) by Lalo de AlmeidaFolha de S.Paulo
1995: Riot
São Paulo State prison guards take part in a protest on São João Avenue in downtown São Paulo, calling for safer prisons and higher salaries.
They had gone on strike six days earlier, following the death of three prison guards during a riot at a prison in the inland city Hortolândia.
Chuvas em São Paulo (1996-01-04) by Claudia GuimarãesFolha de S.Paulo
1996: Floods
Military police officers try to move favela residents protesting on São Paulo's Engenheiro Luiz Carlos Berrini Avenue, who were demanding compensation for flood damage following heavy rains.
Protesto por segurança (1998-04-17) by Cláudio CapuchoFolha de S.Paulo
1998: Safety
Teachers and pupils demonstrate in the city of Jacareí in São Paulo State after teacher Beatriz Junqueira da Silveira was shot dead by a former pupil in revenge for expelling him.
Protesto por paz (1998-11-02) by Leonardo ColossoFolha de S.Paulo
1998: Violence
Demonstrators hold a peace rally at the São Luiz cemetery in São Paulo's South Zone. It is the city's largest cemetery, and around half of the people buried there were victims of some kind of violence.
Protesto (1998-09-21) by Lili MartinsFolha de S.Paulo
1998: Inclusion
People with physical disabilities take part in a protest at São Paulo's Santana subway station on Brazil's National Day of Struggle for People with Disabilities.
The day after the protest, the Special Action Group for the Protection of Disabled Persons (Grupo de Atuação Especial de Proteção às Pessoas Portadoras de Deficiência) was launched in São Paulo. This initiative by the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministério Público) sought to ensure that the rights of people with any kind of physical or mental disability were respected.
Protesto de trabalhadores de empresa de ônibus (1999-05-14) by Evelson de FreitasFolha de S.Paulo
1999: Unemployment
Reflected in the wing mirror of a stationary bus opposite São Paulo's City Council (Câmara Municipal), public transport workers protest against the shutting down of Masterbus after the court declared the company bankrupt.
Protesto em São Paulo (1999-02-28) by Almeida RochaFolha de S.Paulo
1999: Barricades
Residents of Jardim Iguatemi in São Paulo's East Zone burn furniture and tires, blocking Ragueb Chohfi Avenue in protest over damage caused by the flooding that hit their neighborhood.
Protesto de agricultores (1999-08-13) by Evelson de FreitasFolha de S.Paulo
1999: Agriculture
Farmers from Londrina in Paraná State head for Brasília in a convoy of around 300 trucks. They were calling for the government to support agriculture and for farming debts to be renegotiated.
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