Brazil: Solidarity March for Syrian Revolution · Global Voices
Rami Alhames

This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011/12.
Syrian revolution support reached Sao Paulo, Brazil, on March 18, 2012. Hundreds of activists in Sao Paulo rallied to show their solidarity with the Syrian struggle on its first anniversary. The event took place as part of Global March Against the Syrian Dictator and in support of Palestine against Israeli occupation.
The activists shared photos and videos on Twitter and YouTube, for example Nadine Bekdache‏ (@NadineBek [pt]) who posted:
fotos da passeata hoje em #SaoPaulo apoiando a revolação #Siria – A #palestina estava em todas as palavras ditas
Brazilian committee to support Syrian Revolution. Via @NadineBek on Twitter (used with permission)
Although the protest numbers did not reflect the whole Arab community that exists in Sao Paulo, people from different cultures, origins and backgrounds gathered to demonstrate: Syrians, Lebanese, Palestinians, Brazilians, human rights activists and a leftist representative from a party from Argentina. The march started from Shopping Paulista to the MASP art museum and went via the Paulista avenue.
A video posted on YouTube [ar] described the actions of the protest:
واحد واحد واحد الشعب السورية واحد، بعد هذا الهتاف تأتي هذه الكلمة الذي يقول فيها المتكلم أن في سورية هدف واحد وهو إسقاط النظام ونحن هنا نتعلم من الثورة ورغم الصعوبات سنعمل كي نبقى موحدين. بإختصار: ثم يعتذر عن إنفعاله ويقول أن قضيته هي فلسطين وبأن ثورات كل البلدان العربية هي من شأنه وبإنه يؤمن أن من خلال حرية العالم العربي نقضي على إسرائيل. وينتظر أن يتغير النظام في الأردن أيضا ويحيي المغرب على حراكهم
The march stopped at the Syrian and Lebanese consulates (although they were on their day off) chanting and requesting Lebanese officials to treat the Syrian refugees with respect, to provide them with necessities, and to open the borders for Syrians who are escaping the tyranny of the Syrian regime.
"Absolute Support to Syrian Revolution."  Via @NadineBek  on Twitter (used with permission)
Speeches focused a lot on Palestine, free Syria, occupy Golan heights, and called for a united Syria while rejecting foreign intervention.
"For a united nation, secular and democratic. Palestine will be free." Via @NadineBek  on Twitter (used with permission)
This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011/12.