A group of students from USP (University of São Paulo) invaded the entrances of blocks K and L of the central administration on Monday night (8) in protest against the quality of the meals served in the university restaurant, the value of the Pafpe (Student Permanence and Training Support Program) and difficulties in negotiating with the rectory.
According to the university management, the students were hooded, carried sticks and batons, fired firecrackers and attacked security guards, including shooting fireworks at them.
The SSP (Public Security Secretariat) reported that six involved were taken to the 7th Police District, they gave a statement and were released at around 2am this Tuesday (9). Their names were not released.
“Several members of the university guard suffered abrasions and at least three had more serious injuries and were taken to the University Hospital”, says a statement from USP.
According to the SSP, around ten protesters occupied blocks K and L of the university’s central administration and blocked access to the site with barricades. The group presented itself as independent and had no connection with the student entities who led the strike that began on April 14.
THE Military Police was called and removed the students. According to reports from students, there was brutality during the withdrawal. The group was taken to the 7th Police District, in Lapa, west of São Paulo. The Military Police have not taken a position so far.
The police dispersed the protesters and detained six young people. During the action, fireworks, clubs, radio communicators, a megaphone, a sledgehammer, a slingshot and other objects that, according to the SSP, were used during the occupation were seized.
The security department detailed that three security guards were injured during the incident and needed medical attention at the University Hospital.
The expert was called in and found damage to the university’s furniture and equipment. The case was registered as serious bodily injury and damage to public property.
In a manifesto published on social media, the students declared themselves independent, that is, they are not linked to the academic directory that led the strike started on April 14th. During the invasion, in addition to wearing masks to cover their faces, they shouted slogans.
In one of the videos about the evacuation, two young women, restrained by police officers, protest against the eviction and say they are asking for better conditions at the university. “This mask belongs to someone who is fighting,” says one of them.
“This occupation is the true and authentic Revenge Day, so desired by all USP students who have participated in this battle”, says the manifesto of the students who tried to occupy the blocks this Monday.
The invasion occurred on the same day that the students decided, in assembly, to recommend the end of the 54-day strike and the return to classes at university units.
There were 323 votes to end the movement, against 255 to maintain the strike and 9 abstentions.
The strike was one of the largest student mobilizations at USP in the last decade, with the participation of 43 units and episodes such as invasion of the rectoryin May, when the Military Police were called to retake the space and used bombs, gas and a Polish corridor to remove the students.
The rectory offered an adjustment of the aid from R$885 to R$912a value corresponding to the inflationary recovery accumulated since 2022. The administration also announced measures aimed at improving Crusp (USP Residential Complex) and expanding dialogue channels with students.
