Millions of Brazilians throughout the country have gathered to protest against President Dilma Rousseff to demand her impeachment due to rising corruption in the government, reported BBC News.
Citizens have looked down on her because of the lack of action taken during the scandal of major Brazilian oil company Petrobras. The scandal included an embezzlement of over 800 million dollars.
The emotions also fly high because poorly viewed ex-president Lula da Silva just became a minister. “That makes things even more ridiculous,” said Giulli Ferraz, a senior majoring in computer science from Brazil.
“I feel ashamed because of all the corruption in the country, how easily people can get away with it, and how the government allows it to happen without just putting a stop to it.”
Ferraz said the mafia has already formed and taking over. “Brazil has lots of potential, but because of corruption it sinks.
”With all the exploitation, the people have started to suffer under the consequences due to rising taxes.
“They go out in the street so that these politicians won’t govern the country anymore,” said Davisson Oliveira, a junior from Brazil majoring in computer science.
“The day after her election,” said Justin Anderson, a junior from Idaho majoring in biochemistry, “about 20 members of her political party were pardoned and released from prison that were in jail for fraud and theft. People were ticked.”
One of Anderson’s friends in Brazil said the riots went down very orderly. His friend told him, “Somebody stepped on my foot and apologized.”
No matter the efforts of the people, Anderson said he doubts they would bring immediate change. “The people will probably have to wait until the next election.”