Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-10-17
Continued From First Page

tons" as they are politely
labeled.
Their essential anatomy was
the same.
Most favored time to riot is
the evening rush hour; most
favored Site-the city center
where sidewalks are filled with
pedestrians and streets jammed
with automobiles. Due to the
customary two-hour Latin
lunch period. this rush hour
comes later than in the United
States-at about Z o'clock in
the gathering evening dark
ness.
Another common feature is
Q popular cause. Such causes
are not hard to find IN Latin
America. An example is the
recent Brazilian crisis.
The military initially at
tempted to bar Vice President
"Jango" Goulart from the pres
idency vacated by Janio
Quadros. Under the constitu-
ton, they had not a legal leg
to stand on.
The demagogues had a field
day. They could and did appeal
to deep-seated Brazilian respect
for constitutional government.
They wrapped inflammatory
slogans in convincing cloak of
legitimacy.
During those first hectic eve
ningS small mobs of students
and labor agitators burned
signs, hurled stones at street
lamps and American Embassy
windows while defiantly shout
ing: Tango and constitution"
and "Goulart is our legitimate
President"
Military discipline held firm,
the crowds we're easily dis
perSed. but in many a specta-
tors eye the police were no less
arbitrary than the violence they
suppressed.
Another popular cause is the
industrial strike. Throughout
the continent abySmally low
workers wages have not kept
up with rising costs of living.
The striking worker, pressed TO
keep both himself and his fam
lily alive. is a potent weapon for
violence.
In Bogota, Colombia, during
the first half of September the
city center was tied up night
after night with students and
workers demonstrating" in
support of a wildcat strike
against Avianca-the main Co.
1ombian airline.
On the worst evening 80 nail
itary police were wounded, 95
rioters arreste d. and 1000
troops-including cavalry-were
on duty around the capital.
Pattern Is Followed
Here as elsewhere the move
ment from demonstration to
riot was fairly practicable. Dur
ing the day pamphlets appear
on the streets. notices go up in
the university, hasty billboards
are pasted on walls. giving the
time. place. and main slogans.
Everyone is forewarned, in
Guiding the government. Riot
squads arrive and take up stra-
tegic positions as the crowd
congregates. Shops in the vicin-
ity close a little early, and cor
rugated steel shields or lattice
mon fences clang down over
window fronts in metallic
unison.
If the American Embassy is
in the neighborhood, and it
usually is, all employees are
sent home early. The building
is usually a prime target.
When the Embassy happens
to be on the sixth floor of a
towering skyscraper - as in
Bogota-the mob contents it.
self with hurting rocks through
the windows of Colombian Of
fees below.
Orators Harangue Crowd
Bystanders and curiosity
seekers who pause on their way
home to watch the spectacle
are a great asset to the fanat-
les at the core of the crowd.
They swell the numbers and
confuse police, who have no
time to draw fine distinctions
between the innocent and
guilty, once action starts.