BaseReformsRallyatCentraldoBrasil

March 13, 1964

Danilo Araujo Marques

The square at Central do Brasil, in downtown Rio de Janeiro, became the epicenter of national politics on the afternoon of that Friday, March 13, 1964. An immense banner bearing the portrait of president João Goulart hung from the station building and dominated the urban landscape. Yet another of the many signs announcing the Comício das Reformas, a public rally that promised to bring together popular caravans from every corner of Brazil.

Despite the expectation, the scenario, however, was far from calm. Behind the scenes, an intense political battle was unfolding. Known for his strident opposition to Jango, the governor of the state of Guanabara, Carlos Lacerda, did what he could to deflate the mobilization: he decreed an optional workday for public servants and suspended the contractual deadlines of the contractors working for the state. The justification was scathing: according to him, Central do Brasil would be “handed over to the promoters of disorder, whose direct agent is congressman Hércules Corrêa and whose official spokesman is the President of the Republic.”

The choice of location for the rally had not been by chance. Holding an event of this magnitude in the center of the city of Rio meant demonstrating the strength of the federal government, with a strong possibility of national reverberation. But all this political boldness had its price: the need for an unprecedented security scheme. And, to preserve the safety of the president and the other authorities present, an impressive apparatus was mobilized: nine combat vehicles and three tanks surrounded Praça Duque de Caxias, while six machine guns were installed at the Panteão de Caxias. Inside the Ministry of War, located across from the square, a troop from the Guards Battalion remained on alert, ready to intervene at the slightest sign of disturbance.

It was evident that there was a somewhat diffuse confidence in the loyalty of the so-called "military apparatus" to guarantee order and the physical safety of João Goulart. Under the command of General Moraes Âncora, commander of the 1st Army, Army Police troops were strategically positioned. The Dragões da Independência, the Guards Battalion, and the 1st Tank Battalion were some of the units that also formed a security cordon around the square. A respected figure in the military hierarchy, General Âncora's presence conveyed the message that the Army was committed to the security of the event – and, by extension, to the stability of Jango's government. But the ostentatious presence of the "milicos" created a paradoxical atmosphere: on the one hand, it assured a sense of security for the event; on the other, it highlighted the belligerence of the country's political situation.

As the afternoon progressed and the crowd grew, confidence in the guarantee of the military deployment became more palpable among the organizers. Banners and placards – with slogans that even poked fun at the “gorilla” military – mingled with the mass of people that packed the surroundings of Avenida Presidente Vargas. The rally hadn't even started yet, but it was already possible to sense that that Friday the 13th would be a decisive day – a prelude to the events that would unfold in the weeks that followed.

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a political rally. On the left, we see soldiers in uniform, some wearing helmets and carrying weapons, forming a straight line. They are in the foreground, occupying most of the image. In the background, there is a large building with a curved façade. On the façade, there is a large banner with an image of a man and the name "Jango." In addition, there are other banners with text in Portuguese, although it is not possible to read the details completely.