Brasilia, Nov. 14 (teleSUR-RHC) Social movements and political parties mobilized in Brazil Friday to defend democracy, reject the privatization of state oil company Petrobras and demand the resignation of the president of the lower house, Eduardo Cunha, for corruption and discriminatory policies.

“It’s today! Popular movements that make up the Brazil Popular Front hold demonstrations throughout Brazil in support of Petrobras and a new economic policy and against the conservative agenda,” reads this Facebook post by Brazil’s Landless Workers Movement, known as MST. 

More than 70 grassroots organizations, including those representing students and Indigenous communities, joined the Brazil Popular Front, or FBP, in marches in several cities to reject the recent destabilizing actions promoted by the far right of the country.

Hundreds of young people from the Brazilian student union UBES walked to the National Congress in capital Brasilia, while members of the MST headed up the march in Sao Paulo, Brazil's largest city.
      
CUT union representative Vagner Freitas told local media that they are taking to the streets to prevent any coup attempt by the conservative onslaught, led by Cunha, which seeks to reduce the rights of workers, attack the principles of democracy and delegitimize the head of state, Dilma Rousseff.

Freitas also reported that Cunha should resign from his position on moral grounds due to his proven involvement in the Petrobras corruption scandal—he denies accusations that he received $5 million in kickbacks between 2006 and 2012—and the recent revelation that he has kept undeclared bank accounts in Switzerland.

Others specifically marched against a Cunha-backed bill that seeks to limit access to the morning-after pill and information on abortion for rape victims.