[View the story "#MarchadaLiberdade: Marching for Freedom in Brazil" on Storify ]#MarchadaLiberdade: Marching for Freedom in Brazil After weeks of escalating protests, Brazil's self-described freedom movement gears up for country-wide demonstrations on June 18th. Storified by The Stream · Wed, Oct 26 2011 21:59:52
On May 21st, an event was scheduled where protesters would call for the decriminalisation of marijuana.
YouTube - Marijuana March SP 21/05/11 - Police Violencemanualcoforado
The government responded by banning the event, saying the march could not take place. Protesters marched anyway, and the police eventually fired tear gas and smoke bombs upon the crowd.
Military Police Attack Marijuana Protesters in Brazil « Cafe Vale Tudotokeofthetown.com
Protesters turned to social media, blogging the crackdown and the violent response from the police. Outraged, the following week, on May 28th, citizens from many groups beyond cannabis supporters joined together to organize a new, broader march for freedom of expression.
To the misfortune of prosecutors and judges responsible for the injunction, the political movement that has been built around the march of freedom is strong, not silence their anger - increasingly justified - against the curtailment of freedoms by the government.marchadaliberdade.org
Drawing inspiration from the #spanishrevolution, more than 5,000 protesters gathered for the #MarchadaLiberdade - the March for Freedom - shouting "Spain is here!"
YouTube - "Spain is here": Marijuana March had seen march of freedom and widen the mobilization (Video 1)BlogEvidentemente
We are not an organization. We are not a party. We are not virtual. We are a network. We are REAL. Connected, open, interdependent, cross, digital and flesh.marchadaliberdade.org
As mídias sociais já mudaram parte do mundo. CHEGOU A VEZ DO BRASIL! 18/Junho será a #MARCHAdaLIBERDADE - Agora NACIONAL! Nos veremos lá...pedrogomes86
[Translation: Social media has changed the world. The TIME HAS COME FOR BRAZIL! 18/June will be the #MARCHAdaLIBERDADE!]
March for Freedom - Salvador | # marchasalvadormarchadaliberdadesalvador.files.wordpress.com
Direito de expressão, pelo direito de ir e vir, pelo direito de viver, VIVER EU DISSE, E NÃO SOBREVIVER! Twitte AGORA com #MarchaDaLiberdadebigornatweets
[Translation: Right of expression, the right to come and go, the right to live. I SAID TO LIVE, AND NOT SURVIVE!]
Somos todos idosos, índios, travestis. Somos todos nordestinos, bolivianos, brasileiros (@liberdadeMARCHA live on http://twitcam.com/57llm)Liberdade
[Translation: We are all elderly, indigenous people, transvestites. We are all from the Northeast, Bolivians, Brazilians.]
User _Letweet questioned the value of the movement, though.
Por que essa #marchadaliberdade é tão prolixa? Por que eles não protestam logo claramente contra a falsa democracia e os inúmeros impostos??_Letweet
[Translation: Why is this #marchadaliberdade so prolific? Why do they not just protest strongly against the numerous taxes.]
YouTube - March for Freedom CITY DOCUMENTS 2011leo353
"Primeiro, te ignoram. Depois riem de você. Logo te atacam. E então você vence". Gandhi #Marcha Nacional da #Liberdade Brasil #18JUNleandrojacruz
[Translation: First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Once you attack. And then you win.]
The Stream spoke with Felipe Altenfelder , who is helping to plan the protests, about what to expect this Saturday.
#MarchadaLiberdadeAJstream
Are you attending the #marchadaliberdade on Saturday? Tell us about it at @AJStream.
