Brazil: Fights against displacement in Rio de Janeiro

The residents of the community of Rio das Pradas, in the West of Rio de Janeiro fought against the demolition of their houses and shops.

On the morning of March 10, they erected barricades made of tires and wood and set them to fire to block the accesses of the neighborhood.

Later they attacked the Municipal Guard and Military Police forces, which used teargas against the families, with stones and sticks. Some small traders tried to secure there machinery and equipment before the demolition of the houses by excavators.

In the further course of the fights the masses raised banners, which said: “We are not trash” and “We want to work”. The workers did not retreat and threw building rubble at the security forces.