Note of Solidarity with the oppressed comrades

On 1 October 2013, the Civil Police carried out an operation against militants and organizations campaigning in the Bloco de Lutas in Porto Alegre. The homes of PSOL and PSTU members, the Moinho Negro/Centro de Cultura Libertária da Azenha libertarian social centre, a dormitory of the MST (Landless Rural Workers' Movement), the premises of Via Campesina, an urban settlement of the Utopia e Luta autonomous movement and the public premises of the Federação Anarquista Gaúcha, the Ateneu Libertário Batalha de Várzea, were all raided by the police at the behest of the governor Genro (Workers' Party - PT) for the second time in less than four months. Moreover, the comrades of the Assentamento Madre Terra São Gabriel settlement in Rio Grande do Sul were manhandled by the Military Brigade at the headquarters of the settlement. [Português]

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Note of Solidarity with the oppressed comrades

On 1 October 2013, the Civil Police carried out an operation against militants and organizations campaigning in the Bloco de Lutas [1] in Porto Alegre. The homes of PSOL and PSTU members, the Moinho Negro/Centro de Cultura Libertária da Azenha libertarian social centre, a dormitory of the MST (Landless Rural Workers' Movement), the premises of Via Campesina [2], an urban settlement of the Utopia e Luta autonomous movement and the public premises of the Federação Anarquista Gaúcha, the Ateneu Libertário Batalha de Várzea, were all raided by the police at the behest of the governor Genro (Workers' Party - PT) for the second time in less than four months. Moreover, the comrades of the Assentamento Madre Terra São Gabriel settlement in Rio Grande do Sul were manhandled by the Military Brigade at the headquarters of the settlement.

It is interesting to note that this operation has occurred only a few weeks after the militants of the PT were expelled from the Bloco de Lutas, for having been engaged in manoeuvres within the movement to shift the focus of action against the Tarso Genro government, by trying to delay the education strike, amongst other things. Unlike what happened months ago, the government's actions now are not focused only against one organization but against different sectors involved in the Bloco de Lutas and other movements. All it takes to be criminalized is to be against the policies of the government and be involved in a combative social movement.

It should be recalled that it was with the support base of the Federal Government, which here in Rio de Janeiro is controlled by the government of Sérgio Cabral and Eduardo Paes (both PMDB - Brazilian Democratic Movement Party) with their trusty instrument of law and order, that the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro brutally attacked education workers in recent days. The government of the "Workers" Party, supported by the conservative and reactionary sectors of society contrary to popular organization and collective action by the social movements, continues to suppress all those who struggle.

We anarchists organized in the Federação Anarquista do Rio de Janeiro, a member of the Coordenação Anarquista Brasileira wish to show our solidarity with the comrades of Rio Grande do Sul. We will remain steadfast in the struggle. And we will keep doing what we have always done, and that is to work among the grassroots and take our outrage to the streets!

Struggle is not a crime!

Federação Anarquista do Rio de Janeiro - Integrante da Coordenação Anarquista Brasileira

4/10/2013

Translation by FdCA - International Relations Office.


Translator's notes:
1. "Struggle Bloc", a grassroots initiative seeking, amongst other things, free public transport.
2. The International Peasants' Movement.