Public Defender's Office challenges Richa: there were no black blocs.

In a statement, the Public Defender's Office of the State of Paraná contradicts Governor Beto Richa (PSDB), who justified the aggressive police action against teachers last Wednesday by arguing that there were black blocs infiltrated in the protests; "It should be noted that none of the people detained were charged with the crime of damage to public or private property, possession of weapons or explosive devices, and there is no indication that these protesters are members of groups called black blocs," says a section of the text; the statement further worsens Richa's situation, who has been criticized even by allies.

May 02, 2015, 16:30 AMUpdated July 06, 2018, 13:13 pm

In a statement, the Public Defender's Office of the State of Paraná contradicts Governor Beto Richa (PSDB), who justified the aggressive police action against teachers last Wednesday on the grounds that there were black blocs infiltrated in the protests; "It should be noted that none of the people detained were charged with the crime of damage to public or private property, possession of weapons or explosive devices, and there is no indication that these protesters are members of groups called black blocs," says a section of the text; the statement further worsens Richa's situation, who has been criticized even by allies (Photo: Gisele Federicce)

Paraná 247 – The Public Defender's Office of the State of Paraná denied the presence of black blocs at the teachers' demonstration that took place last Wednesday, the 29th, in Curitiba, and which was violently contained by the Military Police. This information contradicts what Governor Beto Richa (PSDB) had been claiming.

In a statement, the Criminal Law Task Force of the Public Defender's Office reported that 12 people were detained, including teachers and other staff members, and two teenagers were apprehended. According to the agency, they were questioned, charged with crimes such as resisting arrest, contempt of court, and disturbing the peace, and then released.

"It should be noted that none of the people detained were charged with committing crimes such as damage to public or private property, possession of weapons or explosive devices, and there is no indication that these protesters are members of groups known as black blocs," the text says.

On the day of the incident, Richa defended the police action, stating that he had not seen any excesses and justified the siege of the Legislative Assembly, where public servants wanted to enter and the agents' job was to prevent them. Richa said the police action was motivated by the identification of black blocs within the organization and during the protests.

"They attacked the police officers with the barriers and were preparing Molotov cocktails when they were apprehended," he stated.

The Public Defender's Office's challenge only worsens the governor's situation, who was the target of another protest yesterday at the Palácio do Buriti. Protesters threw red dye into the fountain at the government headquarters to symbolize the blood of the more than 200 wounded in Wednesday's massacre. Since then, Richa has been criticized even by allies.