At least 200,000 Brazilians took to the streets on Monday to protest the government’s spending of billions of taxpayer dollars to build lavish stadiums and buildings for the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics the nation will host.
A 20-cent bus fare increase was the “last straw” that triggered the protests after frustration throughout the country had been building in regards to the government’s wasteful spending of taxpayer funds. These are reportedly the country’s “largest protests in 20 years.”
A 20-cent bus fare increase was the “last straw” that triggered the protests after frustration throughout the country had been building in regards to the government’s wasteful spending.
According to Global Post, these are the country’s “largest protests in 20 years.” In In Rio de Janeiro, 100,000 people protested with demonstrators throwing rocks at police, defacing government buildings and setting cars on fire.
Protesters said they are being “massacred by the government’s taxes” while “corruption is rife.” They hoped politicians will wake up “to the fact that we’re not taking it anymore.”
They were outraged that public funds are being spent on preparations for the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.
According to reports, at least a dozen police and demonstrators have been injured.
Reuters reported “protests have gathered pace as Brazil is hosting the Confederation’s Cup, a dry run for next year’s World Cup soccer championship.” The nation is also “gearing up to welcome more than 2 million visitors in July as Pope Francis makes his first foreign trip for a gathering of Catholic youth in Rio.”