Governor Tarcísio de Freitas and former minister Fernando Haddad, leading pre-candidates for São Paulo governor, avoided commenting on the student strike at USP and the police operation last Sunday.
In the early hours of Sunday, the Military Police evicted students who had occupied the USP rectory lobby for three days. The operation involved about 50 officers, stun grenades and tear gas, resulting in four students detained. The university said it was not notified and repudiated the act, while the Public Security Secretariat reported moderate use of force and damage to public property.
The student strike, started on April 15, covers more than one hundred courses and demands an increase in the permanence grant from R$ 885 to R$ 1,000, plus improvements in housing and university restaurants. Rector Aluisio Segurado said he had reached the budget limit and would not negotiate after the invasion.
Haddad commented after the initial publication that the scenes reveal a lack of dialogue. Tarcísio did not speak directly. Deputy Kim Kataguiri defended firmer police action, and Mayor Paulo Serra called for investigation of police excesses and respect for public property.
