April 1, 1964
João Carlos Starling
For much of Guanabara's population on that April 1st, the arrival of the troops was expected. The march was widely reported by radio stations and newspapers of the time, and Rio de Janeiro's residents anxiously followed the unfolding of the action that could determine whether the city would become the stage for an armed conflict. The day before, many residents rushed to the markets to buy food, stock up, and prepare themselves for the different scenarios that might arise. The front page of Jornal do Brasil sounded the alarm: "S. Paulo joins Minas and announces march on Rio against Goulart."
The military uprising against the President of the Republic was actually well-regarded by certain layers of Rio's society. Especially by the middle class, which perceived complete disorder in the running of the federal government, a factor considered fundamental to the economic and social crisis. Even when the government did not support left-wing movements, its stance was seen as insufficient to ease fears of a possible socialist revolution in Brazil.
The relatively calm arrival of the tanks and trucks, with no signs of armed conflict, was well received. The general expectation was that the long-awaited military intervention had finally arrived, bringing stability, the protection of democracy, and the removal of the specter of communism.
Families took to the streets, with curious eyes, to welcome the tanks, trucks, and troops that, little by little, took over the city's landscape. The general mood was one of celebration over the imminent coup d'état against President Goulart. For this very reason, the military movements through Rio de Janeiro's main roads on that April 1st were seen by many civilians as something similar to a military parade, an occasion to show patriotism.
Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of an urban scene. In the foreground, a military tank is stopped on the street, with the text "R Rec Mec EBII - 796" on the top. In front of the tank, a small boy is standing, wearing a plastic helmet. Beside him are uniformed soldiers, some of them looking at the tank. In the background, there is a large building with many windows. Behind the soldiers, a person is photographing the scene.Rio de Janeiro, 1º de abril de 1964. | Fotógrafo desconhecido. Agência O Globo