Development: On 17 July a judge in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro city sentenced 23 left-wing activists to seven years in prison for their role in violent protests that took place in 2013 and 2014.
Significance: Demonstrations broke out across Brazil in June 2013, initially over rising bus fares in the city of São Paulo. Quickly, however, they transformed into a more generalised protest against corruption, the 2014 Fifa World Cup, and poor public services with millions of Brazilians taking to the streets. Among them were groups of so-called ‘Black Bloc’ anarchists who sought to destroy public property. The 23 activists sentenced yesterday were convicted of planning to set on fire Rio de Janeiro’s seat of municipal government.
- Among those convicted is Elisa ‘Sininho’ Quadros, an activist who became the face of the anarchist movement among the right-wing press in Brazil in 2013. Also convicted were Caio Silva de Souza and Fabio Raposo, who are being tried in a separate case for the manslaughter of Santiago Andrade, a TV cameraman, who died after he was hit in the back of the head by a firecracker during protests in January 2014.
- According to public prosecutors, the 23 activists committed conspiracy, and the harsh penalty stems from the fact minors were involved in the protests. They were also convicted of criminal damage, resisting arrest, and possession of explosive materials. Lawyers for the activists said they would appeal the “lengthy” sentences which were based on “scant evidence”. They will remain at liberty while they appeal.
Looking Ahead: The harsh sentences send a message to potential protesters ahead of this year’s general election. With the temperature rising ahead of October’s vote, left-wing activists may be tempted to take to the streets again, particularly if, as expected, the leftist former president Lula da Silva is barred from running because of his corruption conviction. These convictions may give them pause.
