Protest at Minas Gerais Assembly condemns massacre in Paraná.
Labor unions and politicians from Minas Gerais gathered at the Human Rights Commission of the Minas Gerais Assembly to express their repudiation and indignation at the brutal manner in which the Paraná police acted last Wednesday; as a way to symbolize the protest, dozens of white roses were brought and distributed to those present at the hearing.
Minas 247 - This Thursday afternoon at the Minas Gerais State Assembly was marked by a protest by union members at the Human Rights Committee. Present at the table that comprised the debate were state and federal deputies and union leaders – there were many critical comments regarding the police action against education workers in Paraná, also forming an agreement to take the discussion to the state and federal legislative levels, with the aim of increasing the discussion of what happened throughout the country.
The leader of the Unified Union of Education Workers (SindUte), Beatriz Cerqueira, who also participated in the Commission's debate panel, criticized the violent police action during the protest and expressed concern about the reactionary movements emerging in the country. "It's unbelievable, unacceptable that anyone would treat teachers that way – more than 150 education workers were injured; people were there to legitimately protest against the erosion of rights, against the shock tactics of that government. Dogs, rubber bullets, bombs dropped from helicopters – no human being deserves to be treated in the way we witnessed in Paraná. We have a very important role in this situation against conservative agendas that only bring setbacks to our country. It's unbelievable that we would see signs saying 'Paulo Freire out,' calling for the return of the dictatorship, which yesterday was killing young people, so our importance becomes even greater, as does our responsibility, to create agendas that are progressive."