CandeláriaRally-DiretasJá

Vai passar - Chico Buarque, 1984.

In 1983, popular pressure for the return of democracy after almost twenty years of Military Dictatorship gained new momentum: the union of political parties, labor unions, organized movements, and representatives of broad social sectors in support of the Dante de Oliveira amendment. The proposal called for direct presidential elections to be held in early 1985. This was the starting point for a series of debates and political rallies that, in the following months, took over the country.

From January 1984 until the day the amendment was voted on, on April 25th, approximately five million people took to the streets in protest in the major cities. This was the largest popular mobilization in Brazil's history since the campaign for the abolition of slavery, in 1888.

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a political rally. The image shows a large crowd gathered in an open space, surrounded by trees and buildings. On the left side, there is a sparser area with fewer people, while on the right, the density of the crowd increases. In the center, several banners are carried by the demonstrators. On the right, a tall, curved building is visible, with regularly spaced windows. In the upper right, a building with a circular structure stands out.

In Rio de Janeiro, the slogan “I want to vote for president” was displayed on posters, banners, flags, buttons, and yellow t-shirts. On April 10, 1984, the movement began in the early hours of the morning with a clear destination: Presidente Vargas avenue, Downtown. Around 2 p.m., bus turnstiles and ferries were made free for the demonstrators. Little by little, a million people gathered near the Igreja da Candelária, where a stage had been set up.

Leonel Brizola and Tancredo Neves speak during a rally in downtown Rio de Janeiro for direct elections to the presidency of the Republic. Vidal da Trindade, April 10, 1984. CPDoc FGV Collection

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a political rally. In the central part, a man is speaking into a microphone, pointing with his index finger. He is being supported by other men behind him. On the left, there are microphones and sound equipment. In the background, there are metal structures and artificial lighting. In the lower right corner, there is an "FGV" and "CPDOC" mark.

Emotion set the tone for most of the speeches, always accompanied by applause, war cries and slogans in favor of democracy. The jurist Sobral Pinto and governor Leonel Brizola were among those most cheered. At the end of the event, when the announcer Osmar Santos announced the playing of the National Anthem, the rain that had threatened to fall since early on poured down. And the cariocas went home with their souls cleansed. Two weeks later, the amendment was defeated in the National Congress. The definitive celebration would be postponed to January 15 of the following year, the date of the indirect election of Tancredo Neves, the first civilian president after the end of the Dictatorship.

Front page of the newspaper with the headline “City holds its biggest rally for direct elections.” O Globo, Rio de Janeiro, April 11, 1984, no. 18417. O Globo Collection.

Image description: The image is a black-and-white photograph of a rally at Candelária, Rio de Janeiro. On the left, a large crowd is gathered in the street, with people walking and talking. On the right, there is a newspaper called "O Globo" with text and images related to the event. The newspaper's headline highlights that the largest rally in the city's history was held.