Hundreds of blocks are getting ready to take to the streets of Rio de Janeiro during the Tiradentes holiday, when the samba school parades take place at Marquês de Sapucaí. The processions of smaller groups and with acoustic music should take place throughout the weekend, even without support from the public power, which claimed they lacked time to set up the necessary structure for the party.
The larger blocks, which need a stage, electric trio and sponsors, chose not to take to the streets due to the lack of organization by the city hall. This was the position adopted by the Associação Independente dos Blocos de Rua do Rio (Sebastiana) and the Liga Amigos do Zé Pereira, which bring together around 20 blocks, such as the traditional Cordão da Bola Preta and Simpatia é Quase Amor.
The independent blocks, which do not belong to leagues and hold smaller parades, expressed the desire to go out during the off-season carnival in a manifesto signed by 130 groups and during a ‘blocato’ held in downtown Rio. Some groups that signed the document paraded in February and March, when carnival was banned in the city. But according to Tomás Ramos, a member of Occupy Carnaval, the movement on the Tiradentes holiday should be higher than at the beginning of the year.
“There are many blocks that became unfeasible due to lack of incentive because they need resources or infrastructure, such as a stage and sound car, and drag crowds through the streets. But there are also several acoustic blocks that can get around more easily, or smaller versions of large blocks, which intend to go out at Carnival and are getting organized for that”.
To circumvent possible repressions, some groups must go out under another name or publicize the parades at the last minute. “Many blocks are worried about how this will have repercussions, how the city hall will curb before and after Carnival. But I believe that the city government tends to turn a blind eye, all signs are in that direction. There were no major problems in February and March, and the police followed our act without any stress,” he said.
Municipal Public Order Secretary Brenno Carnevale told CNN that people are not prohibited from taking to the streets. He reaffirmed that there was no time to make a detailed planning, with the closing of streets, organization of street commerce and security by the Municipal Guard, in the face of the “uncertainty” with the pandemic scenario. But, according to the secretary, any parades during the holiday will not be repressed by the city hall.
“Our role in relation to these alleged people who intend to go out on the street is to monitor for harm reduction. It’s no use repressing for repression because it can cause more turmoil and hurt people. An eventual intervention has to be very careful and our main job will be to guarantee the fluidity in the city and the physical integrity of the people, so that it is a peaceful holiday”, she explained.
“We carried out this monitoring in February, when some people gathered in the center of the city, and we observed that there were no major inconveniences”, added the secretary.
The street Carnival was canceled by Mayor Eduardo Paes in January, due to the Covid-19 situation in the city. On the date, Paes said that planning required advance and that the epidemiological scenario was uncertain. Currently, according to the Municipal Health Department (SMS), the only health restriction in effect is the mandatory vaccination passport in closed events.
Source: CNN Brasil
