Police use tear gas and pepper spray to quell protest.

Cristina Indian
Reporter from Agência Brasil

Rio de Janeiro - Police officers from the Shock Battalion of the Military Police (PM) of Rio launched tear gas bombs today (16) and spray Pepper spray was used to prevent the advance of a demonstration organized through social media. According to military police estimates, the protest has gathered around 500 people near the Maracanã Stadium in the northern part of Rio, where the match between Mexico and Italy will be played in the Confederations Cup.

Adolfo Vieira, 28, a law student at Estácio de Sá University, denied that the demonstration was solely by students. "It's by everyone who is unhappy with the provision of public services. Anyone dissatisfied with the public administration," he said, adding that initially the demonstrations were against the increase in bus fares.

At the gathering of protesters at the São Cristóvão metro station, near the Maracanã stadium, Adolfo Vieira asked those wearing masks to remove them. "We don't have to hide," he said through a megaphone.

In addition to the Riot Police, the demonstration is being monitored by military police from various battalions in Rio, agents from the Municipal Guard, and the National Force.

The protesters had already disrupted traffic on some streets around the Maracanã stadium, but they were unable to get through and remained concentrated about 1 kilometer from the stadium. Avenida Radial Oeste, one of the main roads connecting the city center to the northern zone, was closed in the direction of Méier, but the closure was brief and the road was reopened in less than 10 minutes.

At this moment, the protesters are occupying the São Cristóvão Metro Station.