Youth groups protesting against the coup.

Marco Weissheimer, On the 21 - The gathering for the Act Against the Coup and in Defense of Democracy, held on Thursday evening (11), in Porto Alegre, began shortly after 18 pm, at Esquina Democrática, meeting point for several “Out with Temer!” and anti-coup acts this year. As in previous editions, youth organizations kicked off the act, leading slogans against the coup to the sound of percussion drums. Representatives from the PT Youth, the Union of Socialist Youth (UJS), the Popular Youth Uprising, the Kizomba Collective, the Women Against the Coup Front, the Brazilian Union of Secondary School Students (Ubes), the UEE Livre, the Marighella Organization, the Popular Brazil Front and the People Without Fear Front, among other groups, were present. The size of the act was smaller than previous demonstrations held in the first semester that brought together thousands of people. This time the demonstrators numbered in the hundreds, indicating a change in atmosphere compared to the first semester.

But some things remained the same, especially the leading role of youth in the fight against the coup and against what looms on the horizon in terms of attacks against rights and the criminalization of social movements. At the beginning of the event, a "Temer Out" sign made of cloth, with the Olympic Games symbol, was set up on the ground at the Democratic Corner and burned to shouts of "Temer Out". After the symbolic burning, the march began, going up Borges de Medeiros and then taking Salgado Filho and João Pessoa. Escorted by two EPTC motorcyclists, the march followed its route through the center of the capital, receiving many honks of support from drivers traveling through the area.

The now-traditional chant of "whoever supports, flash the light" received numerous endorsements in apartments in downtown buildings, with residents turning their lights on and off in support of the movement. Throughout the march, no demonstrations in defense of interim president Michel Temer were heard. Besides "Out with Temer," chanted throughout the entire march, demonstrators shouted slogans in support of President Dilma Rousseff, such as "Dilma, warrior of the Brazilian people" and "Dilma, warrior, Brazilian woman." At the front of the march, just behind the large banner of the "Fight Against the Coup Front," another banner from the "UFRGS Community" stood out, opposing the coup and defending democracy. The participation of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul community occurred precisely on the day that the Temer government's intention to cut up to 45% of planned investments for federal universities was announced.

The march went down to João Pessoa and made a stop in front of the PMDB headquarters. On the other side of the avenue, in Parque da Redenção, a detachment of the Special Operations Battalion (BOE) of the Military Brigade was positioned in a line, with shields and vehicles aligned. They were greeted by the demonstrators with the chant "It's not over, it has to end, I want the end of the Military Police". In front of the headquarters of the party that is one of the protagonists of the coup against Dilma Rousseff's government, another protest against Temer took place. This time, pieces of shredded paper formed the phrase "Out with Temer" on the asphalt, which was also burned. This entire route passed without incident and the demonstrators continued along Venâncio Aires towards Cidade Baixa.

The march entered Venâncio Street chanting “Come, come, come to the streets, come, it’s against the coup” and “Whoever supports, flash the light,” which, just as happened on João Pessoa Street, received many endorsements. Among the youth groups, once again, women had a prominent role in the march, wielding megaphones and energizing the event with slogans such as “Neither demure nor domestic, the women are in the streets to fight,” “Temer the thief, your place is in prison,” “There are no women, only bosses, this government is the enemy of the people,” and “Watch out, watch out, watch out, you sexist, because Latin America is going to be all feminist.”

After passing through João Alfredo Avenue, the march entered República Avenue to cover its final stretch, to the sound of “One, two, three, four, five, thousand, either they stop this coup or we stop Brazil.” Employees and patrons of bars in the area came out onto the sidewalks to record the march on video with their cell phones. They received a message from the demonstrators: “Worker, let's fight, you don't have to pay for this crisis.” Around 20:40 PM, the march entered the Perimetral Avenue and headed towards Largo Zumbi dos Palmares. On the Perimetral Avenue, a final cry: “Those who support us, honk your horns!” received the support of many drivers who honked their horns.

The event concluded without incident, offering some insights into the political climate surrounding the resistance movement against the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff's elected government. The municipal elections seem to be dividing the agendas of PT and PCdoB leaders and candidates, particularly regarding street mobilizations. Raul Pont, the PT candidate for mayor of Porto Alegre, was present at the event, but participation from leaders of both parties was lower than in previous demonstrations. The labor movement, which will hold several events in the coming days against the policies announced by Temer and his allies, participated discreetly in Thursday's event, which was fundamentally made possible thanks to the efforts of youth groups. This dispersion of efforts and priorities was also evident in downtown Porto Alegre on Thursday evening.