Thousands of protesters jammed plazas and streets on Brazil's Independence Day on Thursday to push the government to cut foreign debt payments and spend more to fight poverty, organizers said. The peaceful demonstrations at times ran parallel to military parades saluting 178 years of Brazilian independence. Protesters packed main thoroughfares in the financial capital Sao Paulo, the political capital Brasilia, Belo Horizonte, Campinas and Salvador, among others. More than 100,000 people turned out in the town of Aparecida in Sao Paulo state. Protesters rallied behind an unofficial referendum, which ended on Thursday after six days of voting, that called for foreign debt payments to be slashed.
Organizers say debt payments have widened the gap between rich and poor.
The plebiscite fulfilled its objective, which was to bring this issue to the public eye. Brazilian government officials have dismissed the plebiscite as antiquated and an untimely move given the country's recent economic progress.