FIFA Go Home: Brazilians Protest World Cup 2014

10336854_635364053214907_4379108317407264182_n — Light projection on the Empire State Building in New York in solidarity with World Cup protestors in Brazil.

Journalists Tim Eastman, Matt Hopard and Shay Horse are covering the World Cup 2014 protests in Brazil. We’ll be continuously updating this post with more photos and reports.

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Introduction by Tim Eastman

Brazil’s preparations for World Cup 2014 have been incredibly damaging to the country. Costs have far exceeded original estimates, which were more than the country could afford to begin with. Stadiums have been built that the country won’t need after the games. To make way for the new stadiums, hundreds of thousands of people, mostly poor, have been evicted and seen their homes demolished.

Money spent on new construction is very badly needed for public services. People are starving so that World Cup 2014 can be held. Municipal workers, teachers, police, bus drivers, and many others have all protested and held strikes. Because of the bad press World Cup 2014 has garnered for Brazil, far fewer tourists are visiting for the games. That means even less money will be made back. All the money spent would not have been made back to begin with. Many consider World Cup 2014 to be an attempt to gain prestige for Brazil. It has backfired horribly.

To oppose these conditions many Brazilians have risen up through protests and rallies. In response, the police have become increasingly militaristic and violent.