Criminalization of the protests of movimento passe livre in São Paulo (2013-2015)

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a research that aimed the following: (i) to fill conceptual and analytical gaps in the studies of criminalization of protests; (ii) to understand the criminalization processes and the meanings of practices and discourses made by institutions and security or criminal justice agents, social movements, protesters and press, which were empirically verified with the analysis of dynamics, speeches, documents and administrative or judicial procedures of protests repression. The study focuses especially on the protests led by Movimento Passe Livre in June 2013 and January 2015 in the city of São Paulo. Through an open and interpretative qualitative analysis of processual flows, speeches and protest events, we sought to identify the occurrence of criminalization and incrimination of protesters and acts of protest by state agents and institutions.