Protesters gather in financial heart of São Paulo

Similar to what happened during other mass demonstrations in March and April, protesters in São Paulo rallied around the São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP), on Avenida Paulista, the financial heart of São Paulo. The groups behind the initiative – movements such as Vem pra Rua, Aliança Nacional dos Movimentos Democráticos, Revoltados Online, and Movimento Brasil Livre, as well as the Força Sindical workers' union, all advocate ousting President Dilma Rousseff. But the ways they support to achieve that vary – ranging from impeachment to new elections to military intervention.

On social media, the Aliança Nacional dos Movimentos Democráticos (National Democratic Movements' Alliance) reported that the movement will decide if it's calling for the president's impeachment or resignation. Movimento Brasil Livre (Movement for Brazil's Liberation) is planning to collect signatures for a ten-point list against corruption later on.

Angelica Lopes, 50, who identified herself as a writer-hairdresser, arrived early at Avenida Paulista to protest against Brazil's current political scenario. She was carrying a banner calling for military intervention. “I'm pro-intervention. We've got to clean up all this mess. Take it all down. The military used to do things that would last. Now we live in the midst of a political game,” she complained.

A group of motorbikers arrived earlier at Paulista. One of them, tradesman Claudio de Moraes Sanches, aged 68, said he was there for a better country. “Today I'll see if Brazil is going to get any better, I'm fighting for a better country. That is what we need. Enough of corruption and thievery.” He said he is favorable to military intervention, but does not support dictatorship. “People mistake military intervention for dictatorship. Intervention will restore integrity so we can hold direct elections to choose a new government,” he said.

The demonstrations also drew street peddlers, among whom Francisco Chagas, 60, who was selling flags and horns. He was wearing a yellow t-shirt, but said he has no reason to protest against Rousseff's administration. “I have nothing against Dilma. I guess it'll just be all the same [whether or not she stays],” he said.

Also in São Paulo, representatives of the ruling Workers' Party (PT) gathered in front of Lula Institute as a continuation of the Democracy Day event held Monday (Aug. 10). They repudiated the June 30 attack when an improvised explosive device was fired into the institute building.

Translated by Mayra Borges