[CHANTING IN PORTUGUESE]
On the 26th of October, 2012, we followed a protest of the
Free Pass Movement in Sao Paulo.
There was marching, banners, singing, dyslexic drumming,
theater, burning turnstiles, and even a good
old-fashioned dustup.
[PUNK MUSIC PLAYING]
The Free Pass Movement started in 2004, when a student
protest against a fare rise in Salvador won the support of
the population and paralyzed the city for 10 days.
In the end, it didn't change anything, but the protest
called attention to the issue.
Other protests followed in Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte,
Vitoria, and other cities across Brazil.
The movement scored a famous victory in 2005, when a
protest in Florianopolis succeeded in
blocking a price increase.
But most of the time, the protests are simply ignored by
the media, derided by politicians, or stamped out
with rubber bullets and pepper gas.
-[SPEAKING PORTUGUESE]
Here in Sao Paulo, the locals have good reason to be angry.
In a city of 11 million, 65% of the population rely on
public transport to get around.
An area of 1.6 million kilometers squared is covered
by just 61 kilometers of metro lines.
The city also has one of the worst traffic
problems in the world.
-[SPEAKING PORTUGUESE]
Today, Sao Paulo has the most expensive public
transport in Brazil.
The current charge of three reals for a single bus or
metro journey is double the amount charged in the capital
city, Brasilia.
Considering that Sao Paulo is one of the 10 richest cities
in the world, the lack of state investment in public
transport is seen by many as an attack on the demographic
most in need of support.
CAIO: [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE]
-[SPEAKING PORTUGUESE]
LUCAS: [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE]
Not accidentally, the chosen path passed in front of the
Bank of Sao Paulo and other financial centers, where the
protest paused to take in a theatrical performance which
satirized the fat cats profiteering from the
transport system.
-[SPEAKING PORTUGUESE]
The protest gained some followers along the way,
although it looked like they were more attracted by the
drums than anything else.
Once they arrived at the Dom Pedro bus terminal, there was
a ritual burning of a turnstile followed by more
drumming and youthful exuberance.
Up until this point, it had all gone peacefully.
So the protesters decided to continue their march until Se
Square, Sao Paulo's busiest metro station.
-[SPEAKING PORTUGUESE]
[SHOUTING]
[CHANTING]
VINA: [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE]
-[SPEAKING PORTUGUESE]
[CHANTING]
[HIP-HOP MUSIC IN PORTUGUESE]