# Brazil: police on strike **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 8, 2017, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-police-on-strike/779309 "2017-02-08T07:19:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-police-on-strike/779309/1 "2017-02-08T07:19:22Z")
While most people, here in the pit, are frothing about Trump, it’s easy to forget about the rest of the world. In Brazil, the police have gone on strike. In response, the people have turned to shooting, looting and hacking each other with machetes. In the pit because there’s no other place for this insanity. (Warning - its pretty graphic) [http://www.politicaloutsource.com/2017/02/police-go-on-strike-in-brazil-cities.html](http://www.politicaloutsource.com/2017/02/police-go-on-strike-in-brazil-cities.html) ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-police-on-strike/779309/2 "2017-02-08T13:45:43Z")
Your OP and that article imply that this is happening all over Brazil, but I can only find reports of a police strike in one city, Vitória. I guess that’s not lurid enough? ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-police-on-strike/779309/3 "2017-02-08T14:15:03Z")
WTF!?!?! ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-police-on-strike/779309/4 "2017-02-08T16:53:08Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Your OP and that article imply that this is happening all over Brazil, but I can only find reports of a police strike in one city, Vitória. I guess that’s not lurid enough? It’s actually the whole state of Espirito Santo. Technically, the Policia Militar isn’t on strike, since by law, they aren’t allowed to strike, but rather their families are protesting in front of the barracks and not letting them leave. I’ve also seen pictures of looting in other municipalities of Espirito Santo. [Buzzfeed](https://www.buzzfeed.com/tatianafarah/army-called-in-to-help-stop-wave-of-violence-in-brazil?utm_term=.qgrO2LY9G#.cl0xJaLno) has some coverage as well. The army had been called out, but I don’t think it was enough troops to really quiet down the situation. Everything is closed right now including schools, courts, government, and almost all businesses. According to this [article](http://g1.globo.com/espirito-santo/noticia/2017/02/moradores-pedem-volta-da-pm-no-es-e-protestam-por-fim-de-ato-em-quarteis.html), there were counter protests by residents against the wives of the police and the army had to break it all up. I have family there and most people there seem to be getting news via Whatsapp and circulating pictures and news as it becomes available. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-police-on-strike/779309/5 "2017-02-08T17:09:14Z")
I have friends in Brazil, and from what they tell me, the political situation there right now is insane, maybe worse even than in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-police-on-strike/779309/6 "2017-02-10T17:44:33Z")
The police strike in Espirito Santo is still going on. According to [reuters](http://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-violence-espirito-santo-idUSKBN15O1ZT), the death toll has risen to 100. My cousins there forwarded me pictures of the supermarkets and it seems chaotic. The big supermarket in their neighborhood was open for a few hours. Most retail, offices, governments offices, and schools are still closed. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-police-on-strike/779309/7 "2017-02-10T19:14:30Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > I have friends in Brazil, and from what they tell me, the political situation there right now is insane, maybe worse even than in the US. Maybe? How many impeachments have we had in the last few months? ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-police-on-strike/779309/8 "2017-02-10T19:42:59Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Maybe? How many impeachments have we had in the last few months? Not enough.