Some 185 protesters, mostly college professors, were injured in Brazil on Wednesday after Military Police used tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons to disperse crowd of thousands demanding better pay in front of the Paraná State legislature in Curitiba. While conflicts between protesters and police are not uncommon in Brazilian marches, the number of injuries caused by the state’s “shock troops” may be unprecedented. Thirty-five people were hospitalized after the brutal attacks, which angered citizens and resulted in harsh criticism of the state’s governor, Beto Richa. Some protesters responded with volleys of rocks and sticks. Twenty police officer were also reported injured.
University professors injured
"I wasn't throwing rocks or pieces of wood [...] nothing!" said Márcio Henrique dos Santos, 34, and a professor of geography. Dos Santos was shot in the face by a rubber bullet. He was furious in an an interview with G1.
“If you a the right to protest written in paper and fight for your rights within the bounds of the Constitution it’s the minimum that we exercise [our rights]. [Getting my eye shot] will take not away my conception of democracy,” dos Santos said.
The Military Police will investigate the incident and determine who was responsible for what many are calling “excessive force.” One prosecutor called the attacks on teachers a “stain on the history of [...] direct democracy.”
Some police refused to attack protesters
Also unprecedented was mini-mutiny of 50 police officers who reportedly refused an order to shoot rubber bullets and tear gas into the crowd of mostly peaceful protesters. Meanwhile their colleagues attacked the crowds. El Pais reports that the officers may be exonerated soon. Police officers reportedly made anonymous complaints through the week that the governor had approved 1,500 police to protect the legislature from protesters, when there aren’t even that many cops patrolling the city for safety and crime prevention.
Reporter bitten by police pitbull
Luiz Carlos de Jesus was mauled by a pit bull. A cameraman, de Jesus caught the mauling on tape. It doesn’t appear that the police set the attack dog on him intentionally, but they aren’t quick to control the dog. It’s unclear how many protesters were injured by K-9 units. In the video, de Jesus cannot walk, and is carried away by colleagues, his pants shredded and leg bleeding profusely.
Sympathy for police officers fueled sharing of this viral photo of a police officer who appeared to have been injured by protesters. Military police later confirmed that the red liquid was merely ink.
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