In pictures: Brazil protest banners
- Published
As many as 200,000 people have marched through the streets of Brazil's biggest cities, as protests over rising public transport costs and the expense of staging the 2014 World Cup have spread. A banner stating "Violencia e a fare" (loosely translated as: The fares are the real violence) blamed rising transport costs for the discontent.
The trigger was a 2 June increase in the price of a single bus fare in Sao Paulo from 3 reals ($1.40, £0.90) to 3.20. Some of the hash tags used by protest organisers on social networking sites have also used on the banners and placards, such as "Come out onto the streets".
The biggest demonstrations were in Rio de Janeiro, where 100,000 people joined a mainly peaceful march. The protests are the largest seen in Brazil for more than 20 years.
One banner displayed drawings of Rio de Janeiro Governor Sergio Cabral and Mayor Eduardo Paes aiming guns at the face of Christ the Redeemer, one of the most recognisable symbols of the city.
In Brasilia, more than 200 protesters managed to get on to the roof of the National Congress building. Many are using the Confederations Cup as a focus to amplify their concerns. This banner reads: "If your child is sick, take them to the stadium".
Police clashed with protesters in Belo Horizonte, which was hosting the latest game in the Confederations Cup - a warm-up tournament for the World Cup.
Many demonstrators marched to the Mineirao Stadium, where Nigeria were playing Tahiti.
"The people have awoken, the people have decided, either stop stealing or we will paralyse Brazil," stated one banner held by a demonstrator outside the City Hall in Porto Alegre.
Some 65,000 protesters gathered at Sao Paulo's central plaza before moving off in three directions, bringing the main avenues to a standstill.
Passengers disembarking at the city's Faria Lima subway station were greeted by protesters with applause and shouts of "come to the street, come to the street".
Some stood in silent protest, their banners bearing diverse messages such as: "Against the genocide of the poor and blacks of the suburbs!"
Some posters demanded "a state for the people".
Others expressed their view that "the impossible is a matter of opinion".
Some just resorted to shouting their demands.