April 1, 1964
Anna Carolina Viana
On the morning of April 1st, tensions were running high at the Palácio das Laranjeiras. Facing the inevitable advance of the coup troops, which kept gaining supporters, João Goulart was weighing what to do. Many around him advised him to arrest the governor of Guanabara, Carlos Lacerda, who was openly defying Goulart through the loudspeakers set up in front of the state government palace in Rio. “The government of Guanabara,” Lacerda thundered, “is surrounded,” but “ready to put up every resistance. Down with João Goulart!” However, fearing he might trigger an even worse conflict, Jango refused the requests to arrest Lacerda, a decision that proved decisive in enabling the coup's advance. His overriding concern to avoid a civil war guided his choices. Moreover, the president had been warned that, should the governor be arrested, American warships would enter Guanabara Bay and open fire on the coastline.
The impasse had reached its climax, and the few generals still standing by Jango's side advised him to leave the Palácio das Laranjeiras. The lack of security was undeniable. Thus, Goulart decided to leave Rio. His initial destination would be Brasília. In a Mercedes, he headed to the airport. His departure did not go unnoticed by cariocas, who quickly interpreted the then-president's attitude as an escape or even a resignation. In south zone neighborhoods like Copacabana and Leme, the mood was festive: white sheets were hung from building windows, and cannon shots mixed, in the streets, with cries of victory.
Upon hearing the news that Jango had left Rio, Carlos Lacerda unleashed the coup forces in the state. At that moment, a demonstration in support of Goulart was about to take place in Cinelândia. But Lacerdista military troops repressed it harshly. The playwright Oduvaldo Vianna Filho, also known as Vianinha, witnessed the scene and was confused by the soldiers' stance: "What madness is this? They were protecting us at the rally on the 13th! Today they're shooting at us?".
Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a public demonstration. In the foreground, we see a group of people raising their arms and holding a black cloth. On the right, a police officer wearing a helmet and uniform is pointing a weapon at the group. In the background, there are tall buildings with many windows, and trees are partially visible.Manifestantes na Cinelândia protestam contra o golpe. Rio de Janeiro, 01/04/1964. Autor desconhecido. Acervo: Fundo Última Hora/APESP.