credit: Ricardo de Souza Morelli
The 237 families facing eviction from the Mauá building have released an open letter demanding justice after a judge ordered that they should be forcibly removed from their home.On 16 April, the families held a mass protest outside the Joao Mendes Courthouse in São Paolo.
Nete writes: “The lawyer that is supporting our case filed an appeal order to the Court of Justice. The judge has declined to hear it, claiming that we have no interest in the building, despite the appeal showing we have been living here for over five years, the feasibility study which shows the Mauá building could be regenerated, and the order from the local building council which forbids the demolishing of our building.
“We organised the protest in São Paolo to publicise our open letter which speaks about the disregard of the local building council’s order. We have massive banners placed in front of the Mauá building. We are getting organised!”
Mauá eviction threat: A personal appeal from Nete
Politics and power in Divineia
Everything that the people of Diviniea gain for their community is hard-fought and hard-won. Sometimes it takes years or decades to see results but, as today’s news from the community shows, it can be much quicker.
A 30 year campaign ended in victory in 2007 when 216 apartments and 58 family homes being built with government funding in Divinéia. Wooden shacks on dangerous hillside were replaced with strong well-built housing.
“Ours is the work of ants,” explains Maria. “Little by little, we are making progress, but it has been a real struggle.”
The work continues. Here, we bring you news of two recent campaign victories – where local people used their power to make politics work for the poorest people.
Families in Mauá face eviction threat
Traffic passes the Maua occupation
Neti writes:
“We have just received a judge’s eviction order for Mauá.
”The owner has claimed that our occupancy is new, from 2012. The judge went and granted the injunction. We are running around and getting organised to do all we can.”
Please keep the families in Mauá in your prayers during Easter>> Read more…
Zeza’s Easter message from Brazil
Ze
za writes:
To the communities in England and Wales:
Brazil is experiencing this Lent with great enthusiasm and prayer, penance, fasting, confession and sharing.
We send prayers this Lent to all the people who thirst for justice.
We are preparing together with all those who suffer from war, and discrimination, for the messianic entry of Jesus into Jerusalem riding a young horse as the poor, and hailed as the king of glory.
That is the man who was born poor, to give hope to those who think they lost it, this is the profile of the only true saviour, whose kingship has its manifestation in the cross.
We walk to celebrate this Easter, commemorating the mystery of death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
May health spread among the land of England and Wales and its communities.
Brotherly hugs from Connect 2… Brazil
Connected by prayer
Mount Carmel Ladies' Group send their support
Thank you so much for your prayers and messages of support for the evicted families in Sao Paulo.
We’ve included more of your messages below.
The people at APOIO are convinced you’ve made a difference. Read their reply here >>
Just to let you know you and the families of Sao Joao Ave are very much in our thoughts and prayers. We feel so helpless being so far away, but I have sent my letter for the Sao Paulo authorities. I know Apoio is never overcome by setbacks, but my heart goes out to the families squatting in the heat and the rain.
With much love, Pat Devlin (Haydon Bridge)
I was saddened to read that so many families have been evicted onto the streets from Sao Joao Avenue. I hope and pray that these families soon have somewhere to live. May they have the strength and courage to continue to care for each other and the children. Please be assured of my prayers for all involved.
With best wishes, +Rt Rev Seamus Cunningham, Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle
We heard stories about the occupations and the struggle of the communities and want to send our love and prayers to the communities through this photo.
Mount Carmel Ladies Group, Our Lady of Mount Carmel & St George RC Church in Enfield
Evicted families: A message from APOIO
Families in São Paulo (Credit: Frente de Luta por Moradia)
Dear friends
We are writing to thank you for the support given to us in our struggle and the difficult fight to ensure the right to housing. We have not yet won the war, but the suffering of the families was abated slightly by their transfer to government accommodation, as detailed in the news published from our site.
A new phase begins now to ensure that the municipal government includes these families in housing programmes. We are sure that your participation in order to demand that the government take action was crucial in this process.
A big hug for everyone, and on behalf of homeless families, thank you,
Quem não luta está morto! The Struggle Continues!
Please pray for these families – and add your messages of support below.
Evicted families: ‘We know our rights’
Credit: Frente de Luta Por Moradia
APOIO is still negoitating hard with the authorities to secure housing for the evicted families, but the families are still left in limbo.
They are determined to speak out about this injustice. Read on for an open letter which highlights the urgent situation these families face – and their fight to have their rights respected.
They are grateful for all the messages of support they have received. Please add your message below. Read more…
Evicted families face police attack
Credit: Fernando Cardoso
Our partner APOIO reports that on Sunday the Sao Paulo metropolitan police tried to violently evict families that had been camped on the streets since Thursday.
The police used pepper spray, tear bombs and batons, with no consideration to the children, older people and pregnant women who were there.
Many of the activists were injured, including APOIO’s President Manoel Del Rio who was trying to ask for calm and mediate with the police.
APOIO is continuing to accompany the families closely and its lawyers will present a formal denouncement to the Public Ministry for the violence and human rights abuses experienced by the families.
The municipality has offered to put the families into shelters. But they have refused this offer as it is only temporary and not an appropriate solution to their needs, and it would mean women, men and children are split up and separated from each other.
Please pray for these families – and add your messages of support below.
Read the open letter about the evictions on Sao Joao Avenue >>
Eviction forces over 200 families onto the streets
Credit: Fernando Cardoso
On 2 February at 6am, 230 families including 40 children were evicted from a disused building in the centre of the city, on the Avenue Sao Joao.
Our partner APOIO, who works alongside the communities in Maua and Divinea, followed all legal processes to prevent the eviction, but without success.
The families are camped out in the rain on the street opposite the building with nowhere to go. Thanks to APOIO’s intervention, the court has rules that the government must provide the evicted families with housing support. However, this has not happened so far.
Please pray for these families – and add your messages of support below.
We share with you an open letter from the families who have suffered eviction. Read more…
