More than 2,000 protesters took to the streets in Rio de Janeiro Tuesday over growing corruption and after a profusion of major scandals claimed the jobs of several prominent politicians. “All Brazilians are ashamed, because the only things our politicians know how to do is foster bad will,” said Amarilho Carvalho, 78, an actor who attended the protest, which follows one held on September 7 in the capital city of Brasilia that drew 30,000 people. Another demonstrator, community organizer Roberval Uzeda, 46, was equally disheartened by what he say was a culture of official malfeasance and cronyism. The demonstrators, part of a growing national anti-corruption movement in Brazil, carried placards that read “Down With Corruption” and “Impunity is the only sure thing that you get with corrupt politicians.”
Some protesters carried yellow and green brooms: to represent the colors of the Brazilian flag and to underscore the urgent need to sweep away official corruption. Much of the invective was directed toward President Dilma Rousseff, who in her brief tenure has been rocked by a series of corruption scandals that have toppled members of her cabinet and tainted several lawmakers. Federal Police in Brazil last month opened an investigation into complaints of alleged corruption within the government. Rousseff, who took office at the start of the year, was compelled to launch an anti-corruption drive in July, after several key members of her administration were accused of corruption, including her chief of staff who was forced to resign in June. Also forced to quit Rousseff’s government because of alleged graft was agriculture minister and transport minister. Meanwhile tourism minister was forced to step down over the weekend, amid suspicion of having embezzled millions of dollars.
