Brazil Police Clash With Protesters Demonstrating Against Bush Visit

[Purveyor]

SAO PAULO, Brazil -- Police clashed Thursday with students, environmentalists and left-leaning Brazilians protesting a visit by U.S. President George W. Bush and his push for an ethanol energy alliance with Latin America's largest nation.

Riot police fired tear gas at protesters after more than 6,000 people held a largely peaceful march, sending hundreds of demonstrators fleeing and ducking into businesses to avoid the gas.

There were no immediate reports of injuries, but some protesters said they had been beaten by officers after marching 3 kilometers (2 miles) through the financial heart of South America's largest city just hours before Bush was scheduled to arrive.

Police and anti-Bush protesters also faced off in Colombia, where Bush is scheduled to visit on Sunday as part of his five-nation tour of Latin America.

At Bogota's National University, 200 masked students clashed with 300 anti-riot police and shouted ''Out Bush!'' Police fired tear gas, and the students hurled back rocks and small

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http://www.elpasotimes.com/election/ci_5387464

[Jack Sprat]

1. Bush opposes democracy in South America

The free elections of leftist candidates has become a thorn in the side of the American president, where he has not focused his attention to altering election results as he was able to do for his own fraudulent operation in Florida in 2000 and Ohio in 2004.

[april]

2. Oh Yes..

This is what we should be doing ..take to the streets

[burrowowl]

3. Too bad Bu$h won't get close enough

to be pelted with rotten vegetables!

[struggle4progress]

4. In Sao Paulo, Bush greeted by thousands of protesters

By Patrick J. McDonnell and Maura Reynolds, Times Staff Writer
5:45 PM PST, March 8, 2007

... "For Bush this is a matter of getting cheaper fuel and getting out of the mess in the Middle East," said Cristiana Coimbra, 35, a translator ...

The protest march, which included representatives of environmental, student and labor groups, broke up before Bush's plane touched down.

Brazilian police also were deployed in force to clear the route that Bush was scheduled to take from the airport to his hotel near downtown. Reports here indicated that as many as 4,000 law-enforcement officers were participating in one of the largest security operations in recent memory.

Anti-Bush rallies seem likely to follow Bush on his Latin America tour. On his last visit to the continent, in 2005, Bush never witnessed the massive demonstrations criticizing his presence at a hemispheric economic summit in Argentina ...

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-bushbrazil8mar08,0,491341.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[Purveyor]

5. Funny, I've seen nary a report on MSM of these protests. Nil, none... n/t

[dipsydoodle]

11. Here's the BBC's link to the subject

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6430951.stm

[Say_What]

14. The Photos are better... Latin America welcomes El Mono...

Demonstrators protest against the upcoming visit of US President George W. Bush in Sao Paulo, Thursday, March 8, 2007. President Bush will visit Brazil March 8-9. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)


A protester punches an effigy of US President George W. Bush during an anti-Bush rally near the Hilton Hotel in Sao Paulo as the US leader starts a five-nation Latin American tour. Bush on Friday denied turning his back on Latin America, where demonstrations and violent protests rocked the start of his goodwill tour.(AFP/Vanderlei Almeida)


Hooded demonstrators who are against the visit of US President George W. Bush to Latin American countries, bang a security fence as members of radical groups clash with the police in front of the US Chamber of Commerce in Buenos Aires. Bush on Friday denied turning his back on Latin America, where demonstrations and violent protests rocked the start of his goodwill tour.(AFP/Daniel Garcia)


Demonstrators hold a home-made American flag with swastikas painted instead of stars during a protest in front of the embassy of Uruguay in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday March 9, 2007. President Bush is in an official tour through Latin America and will visit Uruguay on March 9-10. (AP Photo/Ali Burafi)


Brazilians protest against the visit by U.S. President George W. Bush, scheduled to arrive later in the day for the first leg of a tour of five Latin American countries, along Sao Paulo's Paulista Avenue March 8, 2007. The poster reads, 'Down with the Number One Terrorist. Bush Go Home.' REUTERS/Sergio Moraes (BRAZIL)


Brazilians protest against the visit by U.S. President George W. Bush, scheduled to arrive later in the day for the first leg of a tour of five Latin American countries, along Sao Paulo's Paulista Avenue March 8, 2007. REUTERS/Caetano Barreira (BRAZIL)


Colombian anti-riot police spray a student with water at the Universidad Nacional during a protest in Bogota March 8, 2007, before U.S. President George W. Bush's visit to Colombia. Leftist guerrillas are planning attacks and sabotage during Bush's visit to his closest South American ally this weekend, the country's top police commander said on Thursday. REUTERS/Jose Miguel Gomez (COLOMBIA)


A Brazilian woman protests the visit by U.S. President George W. Bush, scheduled to arrive later in the day for the first leg of a tour of five Latin American countries, along Sao Paulo's Paulista Avenue March 8, 2007. The words on her back read, 'Bush Go Home. Murder.' REUTERS/Sergio Moraes (BRAZIL)


Maranhao state Governor Jackson Lago (C) helps members of Brazil's Landless Movement to symbolically hang an effigy of U.S. President George W. Bush during a demonstration for International Women's Day in which they also protested against the visit by Bush to Brazil, in the Maranhao state capital of Sao Luiz March 8, 2007. REUTERS/Robson Oliveira (BRAZIL)


Demonstrators burn a home-made American flag with skulls painted instead of stars, during a protest against the upcoming visit of US President George W. Bush to Colombia, in Bogota, Wednesday, March 7, 2007. President Bush will visit Colombia on March 11, 2007. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)


A protester rides on a bus placarded with anti-Bush posters as he arrives for a protest rally next to the Hilton Hotel in Sao Paulo, Brazil, as US President George W. Bush starts a five-nation Latin American tour. Bush denied turning his back on Latin America, where demonstrations and violent protests rocked the start of his goodwill tour.(AFP/Vanderlei Almeida)

[Karenina]

10. Wonder what that $ecurity co$t them...

[jdadd]

6. You'd think Chimpy would get the hint....

"Brazilians Protesting...Damn thats a lot of protesters...We better get outa here Karl" :rofl:

[Judi Lynn]

7. Thousands protest Bush's Brazil visit

Thousands protest Bush's Brazil visit
Security is massive as he arrives for a five-nation Latin tour, aimed in part at countering Chavez.
By Patrick J. McDonnell and Maura Reynolds, Times Staff Writers
March 9, 2007


SAO PAULO, BRAZIL — As President Bush flew here Thursday on Air Force One, thousands of protesters shouting "Out, Bush!" marched down this city's main drag, Avenida Paulista.

Hundreds of riot police flanked at least 6,000 demonstrators near the city's financial center, and the scent of tear gas hovered along the march route. At least three protesters and a news photographer were reported hurt as baton-wielding police and demonstrators clashed, but there was no immediate word on their condition. Authorities later said that 16 police officers suffered minor injuries.

"We don't want Bush here!" shouted Marcelo Prado, 19. "Tell him to go home!"

Bush arrived Thursday night to begin a five-country visit to Latin America designed to bolster U.S. standing in the region and counter the growing influence of leftist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. National security advisor Stephen J. Hadley, on Air Force One, said, "The president is going to do what he's been doing for a long time: talk about a positive agenda."
(snip/...)

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-bushbrazil9mar09,0,950095.story?coll=la-home-world

[Judi Lynn]

8. Violent protests greet Bush's Latin America tour

Violent protests greet Bush's Latin America tour
by Laurent Lozano
31 minutes ago

SAO PAULO (AFP) - US President George W. Bush arrived in Brazil Thursday amid protests at his visit that turned violent at the start of his five-nation Latin America tour.

In Sao Paulo, Brazil's largest city and financial capital, a massive demonstration poured down the main avenue. Protesters carried signs reading "Bush out of Iraq" and "Down with the Number One Terrorist George Bush."

Organizers said the demonstration drew at least 30,000 people; police put the number at 10,000.

The peaceful demonstration turned violent after a group of protesters entered a prohibited area along the avenue.

Protesters hurled rocks and sticks at police, who fired tear gas and rubber bullets. The clash left 16 police officers and some six protesters injured.
(snip/...)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070309/wl_afp/uslatambush

[Vidar]

9. Cheering the protesters.

[melissinha]

12. Proud to be Brazilian

Its always interesting when there is some strife between my two countries... They are so very different. I have known all my life foreign views of this country does matter.. it really does but conservatives find it so easy to dismiss it, its sickening....


I tell you what, when I speak with non-Americans over the years I get very different responses to being either and American or a Brazilian.... and you know which one is favorable.

[Judi Lynn]

13. Does anyone else see this photo the way it looks to me? Bush & Lula.....

From:

Violent protests mark start of Bush's Latin America tour

SAO PAULO 09/03/2007 22:54

US President George W. Bush Friday started a tour of Latin America against the backdrop of violent protests and a planned "anti-imperialist" rally headlined by his Venezuelan arch-foe Hugo Chavez.
(snip/)

http://www.bakutoday.net/view.php?d=34563



© ,AFP,Vanderlei Almeida,AFP,Antonio Scorza,AFP,Vanderlei Almeida,AFP,Juan Mabromata,AFP,Mandel Ngan


US President George W. Bush Friday started a tour of Latin America against the backdrop of violent protests and a planned "anti-imperialist" rally headlined by his Venezuelan arch-foe Hugo Chavez.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Could be my imagination, but it looks to me as if _Bush moved in aggressively to grab Lula da Silva to make a photo op favorable to him, appearing as if Lula's glad to see him, and Lula is trying tactfully, gently to extricate himself. Does this not remind you of seeing someone trying to avoid a bear hug from a sloppy but determined drunk?

[Say_What]

15. I thought the same thing... Lula looks pissed... n/t