A Semana Sangrenta e a imprensa: estudantes e policiais nas ruas do Rio de Janeiro em junho de 1968

Abstract

This Masters dissertation aims to study the representations of the Rio de Janeiro press during the so-called "Bloody Week", which took place on June 19, 20 and 21, 1968. The three days of "Bloody Week" were also known, respectively, as "Bloody Wednesday", "Violence at Praia Vermelha" and "Bloody Friday". During those three days intense conflicts occurred between students and police officers on the streets of downtown Rio de Janeiro. The students demanded the repeal of the Suplicy Law and the MEC-Usaid agreements; they also protested against the transformation of public universities into foundations. The student movement also fought against the military dictatorship and called for the release of political prisoners. However, in search of dialogue the students only received violence as a response. On those days in June 68 a large number of people were injured, arrested and there were also many reports of deaths among students, police and civilians. Meanwhile, the carioca press reported the events and recorded scenes of violence. Here we selected to study in this dissertation six periodicals that reported the events of "Bloody Week": Correio da Manhã, Diário de Notícias, Tribuna da Imprensa, O Globo, Jornal do Brasil and O Cruzeiro Magazine. All had supported the military coup of 1964, which had instituted the dictatorship, but on the occasion of "Bloody Week" they were already suffering from the censorship imposed by the dictatorial regime on the media.