FEMEN Topless Protesters Held in Brasilia

Brazil News

RIO DE JANEIRO – Military Police in Brasilia arrested two feminists protesting topless on the Esplanade of Ministries during Independence Day parades, reported online media Friday. The two protesters are part of FEMEN, an international group of feminists, founded in Ukraine in 2008, famous for its scantily clad members fighting for women’s rights.

FEMEN Topless Protesters Held in Brasilia

A friend of the two protesters told G1 that one of them is Sara Winter, 20, and that they are protesting violence against women and the construction of the Belo Monte hydroelectric plant in Northern Brazil.

Police took the two young women to the station and say that they will release them after citing them for infractions. The two activists were shirtless and carrying banners. Police detained them near the podium where Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff was speaking on the country’s Independence Day.

Sara Winter criticized the police actions to hold her and her comrade. She said that, during Carnival Brazil exploits female nudity as a product, but the country does not tolerate it during a political protest. Sara has dedicated herself to feminist activism since April 1, this year.

In May, Sara tried to invade the stage while pop star Gretchen was performing, but security guards stopped her. After the show, she managed to get onstage where she spoke for three minutes, holding a sign with the phrase: “Every three minutes, a woman is beaten in Brazil.”

Previously, the feminist group FEMEN held protests at the Russian embassy in Sao Paulo, where police arrested three protesters – two members of FEMEN and another woman who joined the protest spontaneously. Sara is one of the two founding members of FEMEN Brazil. The group protested previously outside the Museum of Art Sao Paulo, where they faced an indifferent crowd but escaped the notice of police.