Starting late last week, with several small protests denouncing a hike in public transport fares, demonstrations flared up yesterday, encompassing larger public anger at poor public services, police violence and government corruption. More than 200,000 took to the streets of Brazil's biggest cities yesterday, voicing frustration with the billions of dollars set aside for upcoming sports events like the World Cup and the 2014 Olympics, despite crushing levels of poverty in some places, and underfunded public education, health, security and transportation. Though the majority of the protests were peaceful, a few violent demonstrations were broken up by police in Rio de Janeiro.

1. A military policeman sprays pepper gas at a protester during a demonstration in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 17, 2013. Protesters massed in at least seven Brazilian cities Monday for renewed round of demonstrations voicing dissatisfaction with the government's economic policies, including billions of dollars spent on large sports projects, despite a serious need to fund public health, education and welfare.
AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano
2. Protesters shout slogans in Rio de Janeiro, on June 16, 2013. Brazilian police dispersed a small protest against a public transport fare hike that broke out in front of Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium ahead of the Mexico-Italy soccer match during the Confederations Cup.
AP Photo/Nicolas Tanner
3. Activists and students clash with riot police in a cloud of tear gas outside the Mane Garrincha National Stadium in Brasilia, on June 15, 2013. Protests continued in Brasilia over the government's economic policies and the hosting of major sporting events as Brazil's national soccer team prepared to play Japan in the Confederations Cup opening match.
Reuters/Gustavo Froner
4. Activists and students scuffle with riot police outside the Mane Garrincha National Stadium in Brasilia, on June 15, 2013.
Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino
5. Demonstrators carry a sign reading in Portuguese "No to violence" in Brasilia, on June 17, 2013.
AP Photo/Eraldo Peres
6. A policeman sprays pepper gas at demonstrators during a protest in Brasilia, on June 15, 2013. About 1,000 protesters complaining about the high cost of staging the World Cup demonstrated in front of the National Stadium in Brasilia just hours before Brazil played Japan in the opening match of the Confederations Cup on Saturday, police said.
AP Photo/Agencia Brasil, Marcello Casal
7. Demonstrators march toward the Mineirao Stadium, where Nigeria was playing Tahiti in the Confederations Cup, during one of the many protests around Brazil's major cities in Belo Horizonte, on June 17, 2013.
Reuters/Pedro Vilela
8. Activists demonstrate in front of riot police outside the Mane Garrincha National Stadium in Brasilia, on June 15, 2013.
Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino
9. Protestors clash with riot police outside of Maracana stadium during the FIFA 2013 Confederation Cup football match between Mexico and Italy in Rio de Janeiro, on June 16, 2013. Police deployed tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse around 3,000 demonstrators attempting to enter the stadium in protest at the vast sums of money spent on the organization of the tournament and next year's World Cup.
Tasso Marcelo/AFP/Getty Images
10. Demonstrators march during one of the many protests around Brazil's major cities in Belem, Para State, on June 17, 2013. As many as 200,000 demonstrators marched through the streets of Brazil's biggest cities on Monday in a swelling wave of protest tapping into widespread anger at poor public services, police violence and government corruption. The signs read, "Rebel against the increase in transportation", and "Sao Paulo is not alone, we're together".
Reuters/Paulo Santos
11. Protesters gather at the Municipal theater during a march in Rio de Janeiro, on June 17, 2013.
AP Photo/Felipe Dana
12. Demonstrators protest against the government of Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff outside the National Congress in Brasilia, on June 17, 2013.
Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino
13. Policemen struggle to arrest students during a protest at the National Congress, on June 17, 2013 in Brasilia.
Evaristo Sa/AFP/Getty Images
14. Demonstrators dance around a bonfire as some clash with the riot police outside the Municipal Theater in downtown Rio de Janeiro, on June 17, 2013, after a protest against higher public transportation fares and the use of public funds to finance international football tournaments.
Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images
15. A masked protester, during clashes in Rio de Janeiro's downtown, on June 17, 2013.
Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images
16. Demonstrators face riot police during one of the many protests around Brazil's major cities in Belo Horizonte, on June 17, 2013.
Reuters/Pedro Vilela
17. A girl suffering from the effects of tear gas used by police is helped during a protest in Sao Paulo, on June 17, 2013.
AP Photo/Nelson Antoine
18. Protesters fill the streets of Rio de Janeiro, on June 17, 2013.
AP Photo/Felipe Dana
19. A bus driver looks at demonstrators during one of the many protests around Brazil's major cities in Sao Paulo, on June 17, 2013.
Reuters/Nacho Doce
20. Police fire rubber bullets at demonstrators in Sao Paulo, on June 13, 2013.
AP Photo/Nelson Antoine
21. Chased by demonstrators, police officers retreat during a protest near the state legislative assembly in Rio de Janeiro, on June 17, 2013.
AP Photo/Felipe Dana
22. Demonstrators clash with riot police in front of Rio de Janeiro's Legislative Assembly (ALERJ) building, on June 17, 2013.
Tasso Marcelo/AFP/Getty Images
23. A policeman lies injured on the ground after clashing with demonstrators in Rio de Janeiro, on June 17, 2013.
AP Photo/Felipe Dana
24. A riot police officer, during clashes in Rio de Janeiro's downtown, on June 17, 2013.
Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images
25. A protester looks at vandalized cash machines in a bank during a demonstration in Rio de Janeiro, on June 17, 2013.
AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano
26. A car burns during a protest in downtown Rio de Janeiro, on June 17, 2013.
Reuters/Sergio Moraes
27. A demonstrator who was shot in the leg during clashes in Rio de Janeiro's downtown is assisted, on June 17, 2013.
Lluis Gene/AFP/Getty Images
28. Demonstrators attempt to break into the Tiradentes Palace -- Rio de Janeiro's Legislative Assembly (ALERJ) building -- during a protest in Rio de Janeiro, on June 17, 2013.
Tasso Marcelo/AFP/Getty Images
29. A demonstrator holds a Brazilian flag in front of a burning barricade during a protest in Rio de Janeiro, on June 17, 2013.
AP Photo/Felipe Dana
30. A police officer uses pepper spray on demonstrators protesting against the Confederation's Cup and the government of Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff, outside the national congress in Brasilia, on June 17, 2013.
Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino
31. A riot police officer arrests a demonstrator during clashes in Rio de Janeiro's downtown, on June 17, 2013.
Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images
32. A military policeman removes journalists from near the Rio de Janeiro state legislature, background, during a demonstration in Rio, on June 17, 2013.
AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano

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