WEB NEWS - Brazil worries about violent youth flashmobs
- 10 years ago
In this edition: in Brazil, favela youths find a unique way to protest in shopping centres; the selfie fashion reaches the farming sector; and a horrifying baby spreads terror in the streets of New York.
BRAZIL WORRIES ABOUT VIOLENT YOUTH FLASH MOBS
Hundreds of favela youths overrunning a stylish shopping centre in Sao Paulo… Since last month, these flash mobs have been increasing in number and are sparking controversy in Brazil. The events are organised on social networks, where participants are urged to go for a ‘rolezinho’, i.e. a trip with friends to window shop, sing songs and meet other young people.
But as these amateur images show, the gatherings can lead to clashes with security officers and are cause for concern for directors of these meccas of consumerism, who fear misbehaviour and theft. Some have even introduced security checks and deny access to non-accompanied minors, while the police have already stepped in on numerous occasions, making dozens of arrests in recent weeks.
And since the first arrests, the ‘rolezinhos’ have also turned into a form of protest against what is considered as racism and social segregation as these malls are usually the stomping ground of the middle classes and country’s white bourgeoisie.
The phenomenon is now slowly spreading to the rest of the country. On Facebook, almost 8,500 people have committed to taking part in a ‘rolezinho’ in a fashionable neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro. A worrying contagion for the government who, after last year’s social unrest, fears a fresh wave of national protest just a few months before the football world cup.
FARMER SELFIES GO VIRAL
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BRAZIL WORRIES ABOUT VIOLENT YOUTH FLASH MOBS
Hundreds of favela youths overrunning a stylish shopping centre in Sao Paulo… Since last month, these flash mobs have been increasing in number and are sparking controversy in Brazil. The events are organised on social networks, where participants are urged to go for a ‘rolezinho’, i.e. a trip with friends to window shop, sing songs and meet other young people.
But as these amateur images show, the gatherings can lead to clashes with security officers and are cause for concern for directors of these meccas of consumerism, who fear misbehaviour and theft. Some have even introduced security checks and deny access to non-accompanied minors, while the police have already stepped in on numerous occasions, making dozens of arrests in recent weeks.
And since the first arrests, the ‘rolezinhos’ have also turned into a form of protest against what is considered as racism and social segregation as these malls are usually the stomping ground of the middle classes and country’s white bourgeoisie.
The phenomenon is now slowly spreading to the rest of the country. On Facebook, almost 8,500 people have committed to taking part in a ‘rolezinho’ in a fashionable neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro. A worrying contagion for the government who, after last year’s social unrest, fears a fresh wave of national protest just a few months before the football world cup.
FARMER SELFIES GO VIRAL
Last month’s la... Go on reading on our web site.
Visit our website:
http://www.france24.com
Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English
Follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/France24_en