Anti-impeachment protests close off highways in several Brazilian states

Protests against the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff have erupted in at least eight Brazilian states and the Federal District on Tuesday (May 10).

With burning tires, banners and posters with slogans, protesters blocked major roads in the country's two biggest cities, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, early in the morning.

In São Paulo, protesters closed off two major local thoroughfares and the route leading to Guarulhos International Airport. A group with banners calling the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff a “coup” blockaded the road in front of the Globo TV network headquarters and accused the broadcaster of biased impeachment coverage.

In Rio, protesters carrying banners with the watchwords “there will be no coup” closed off the Rio–Santos highway. Earlier, the Via Dutra highway linking Rio and São Paulo was also blocked, but reopened shortly.

In Brasília, two highways were blockaded with burning tires in demonstrations led by the Landless Rural Workers' Movement (MST). Their demands include more land reform efforts and suspending the impeachment proceedings against Rousseff.

Anti-impeachment protests have also caused road closures in other states including Espírito Santo, Rio Grande do Sul, Pernambuco, Amazonas, Bahia, and Paraíba. Yesterday, the Central Workers' Union (CUT) released a statement calling a nationwide protest and stoppage day on Tuesday, with demonstrations in several states, road blockades, and school and university occupations.

Translated by Mayra Borges