Protesters are received by São Paulo's security leadership.

Daniel Mello - Reporter for Agência Brasil

After a demonstration in front of the São Paulo State Public Security Secretariat (SSP) this afternoon (31), some protesters were received by the agency's deputy secretary, Antonio Carlos da Ponte. The committee of activists asked the state government to retract the support given to the military police officers who shot the stock clerk Fabrício Chaves in a protest last Saturday (25). The young man was hit when he reacted to a police approach during a demonstration against public spending on the organization of the World Cup.

It was also requested that the police not use firearms in protests and that cases of police abuse in the outskirts, especially in the southern zone of the São Paulo capital, be investigated. The national coordinator of the Homeless Workers' Movement (MTST), Guilherme Simões, who participated in the meeting, said that it was agreed that the social movements will be received by the head of the secretariat, Fernando Grella, in a meeting that will be scheduled later.

According to Simões, the intention is to continue pressuring the government to meet their demands. "Today we came to the front [of the building], but we will go inside if necessary," he said. "He was there, he listened, but there was no follow-up, nothing effective."

Also participating in the protest were the Popular Health Forum, the Periferia Ativa movement, and the collective "If There Are No Rights, There Will Be No World Cup." The group gathered in front of the Municipal Theater, in the city center, and marched towards the headquarters of the Public Security Secretariat.

They remained in front of the building for about two hours, carrying banners and shouting slogans against police violence and also against the World Cup in Brazil. The police formed a cordon around the building. The demonstration was peaceful.