Protests in Brazil: State Police call up 100% of troops to security at Esplanade in Brasília
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The State Police of the Federal District (PMDF) has called up 100% of the force for the demonstrations on September 7th, Brazil’s Independence Day.
According to the force, military police officers are on standby. For internal strategy reasons, the PM does not inform the number of officers committed to the service.
Also, according to the PMDF, only personnel on vacation were not called. Vacations are a legal right and will not be interrupted.
Last Friday (3/9), in response to the recommendation of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Federal District and Territories (MPDFT), the state police of the DF (PMDF) promised to use the entire staff for the safety of the population this holiday.
According to the MPDFT, the PMDF also pledged to investigate any violations during the demonstrations planned for the date.
The PMDF used pepper spray to contain protesters on Tuesday morning (7 at the Ministries Esplanade. A group tried to break the blockade set up near the Federal Supreme Court (STF) building. Isolation fences were torn down, and there was confusion. Despite the conflict, no one was injured.
Since dawn, supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro have tried unsuccessfully to approach the STF building. At 4:30 in the morning, a group of Bolsonaristas crowded in front of the barrier of 50 police officers. Street vendors, however, remained in place selling products such as flags, water, and T-shirts.
According to the protesters, the main demands are adopting the printed ballot and removing the ministers of the Supreme Court (STF). “I’m prepared to stay for several days,” said Beneur Diogo Miguel, a building technician, while setting up a tent on the lawn.
The 50-year-old man came to Brasília from Anápolis (GO), accompanied by his daughter Ádna Pereira Miguel, 25. “The appeal is because the STF is holding the country back, they are letting the bandits go,” he evaluated.
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