Brasilia: Thousands of protesters dressed in
black marched in a demonstration that ran parallel to Brazil's
official Independence Day military parade headed by President
Dilma Rousseff.
Brasilia police said that some 25,000 people, mostly
youths, joined in the peaceful march yesterday. Similar
protests were held in other cities, including Sao Paulo.
Corruption scandals have toppled three cabinet ministers
in two months and tainted several lawmakers.
"There they are, happily celebrating our independence, but
we want to free ourselves from corruption," said protester
Flavia Rocha, 29, a university graduate student.
Several protesters carried signs mentioning the case of
Jacqueline Roriz, an opposition legislator who was absolved by
her colleagues after a video surfaced showing her accepting
money in 2006 from a politician accused of corruption.
"The dear motherland is in mourning," read one sign.
"Corruption is Brazil's cancer," read another. A third said:
"Dilma, time for a cleanup."
Murilho Carvalho, 23, was dressed in an outfit covered
with fake money and carried a sign that read: "I live to
steal."
"Here in Brazil there are people who steal in order to
live, but these politicians live to steal. Parliamentary
immunity must end," Carvalho told a news agency.
The crowd ended the protest at the door of Brazil's
Congress, where they produced brooms and buckets of water and
began a mock "clean up."
PTI
First Published: Thursday, September 08, 2011, 10:58