New anti-World Cup demonstrations begin
Demonstrations are scheduled to take place in at least seven host cities of the competitions – Rio de Janeiro, Distrito Federal, Fortaleza, Belo Horizonte, São Paulo, Porto Alegre, and Salvador 
Twenty-eight days to go. On the official 2014 FIFA World Cup portal, the countdown is shown in the green, yellow and blue colors of the Brazilian flag. But on the website of the Popular Committee on the World Cup in São Paulo, it's all black and asking, “World Cup for Whom?” The question shows the indignation of social movements, civil organizations, political parties, populations impacted by large projects, and activists who are all taking to the streets on Thursday (May 15) with flags reading “World Cup for the Elites, People on the Streets”.
The May 15 rallies, called 15M – International Day of FIFA World Cup Resistance, were planned earlier this month during the “Encontro dos Atingidos” (Impacted Populations' Rally – Who's Losing out with Mega Events and Enterprises) organized by the National Association of Popular Committees on the World Cup (ANCOP) to speak out against human rights violations in connection with the preparations to stage the World Cup.
Demonstrations are scheduled to take place in at least seven host cities of the competitions – Rio de Janeiro, Distrito Federal, Fortaleza, Belo Horizonte, São Paulo, Porto Alegre, and Salvador – as well as Vitória (Espírito Santo), and Santiago, Chile. Over 12,000 people had already confirmed attendance on the event's page on Facebook by Wednesday evening (14).
The protesters are planning to block off the streets in a revival of June last year, when a series of demonstrations took thousands of Brazilians to the streets during the FIFA Confederations Cup. The 15M organizers have written a manifesto with 11 items including their objection to Congress bills that define terrorism and give harsher penalties for damages caused during protests. Other demands include police demilitarization, lifelong pensions for the families of nine construction workers who died while working on World Cup stadiums, and full ability for the construction companies.
The document also calls for an end to evictions and forced displacements and asks for decent housing for the displaced families. It advocates media democracy, especially concerning the World Cup match broadcasts, which are exclusive to Rede Globo, and improvements and free fares in public transport, which was a central theme in the agenda of last year's demonstrations.
Each city has planned their own acts, with most demonstrations set to take place during the afternoon.
Translated by Mayra Borges
Fonte: New anti-World Cup demonstrations begin
