Meeting in Porto Alegre calls for global unity against fascism

Brasilia. Thousands of activists and political leaders inaugurated yesterday the first International Anti-Fascist Conference in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil, with a massive march in which they denounced the advance of the extreme right in the region and called to defend the social achievements of the people of the global South.

The Brazilian city of Porto Alegre once again became the epicenter of global political articulation with the opening march of the first International Anti-Fascist Conference for the Sovereignty of Peoples.

According to journalistic reports and testimonies spread on social networks, the mobilization in the historic center of the capital of the state of Río Grande del Sur brought together thousands of people.

Among the crowd were members of some 30 foreign delegations and representatives of social movements, popular organizations and political parties, in a demonstration of unity in the face of the global advance of the extreme right, Prensa Latina reported.

“We are very happy because it was a powerful march,” said Ricardo Haesbaert, president of the José Martí Cultural Society of Porto Alegre and member of the Brazilian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.

During the mobilization, a large banner with the legend: “Defending Cuba is defending Brazil” and flags of the Caribbean nation itself, Venezuela, Iran, Palestine and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic were seen.

The meeting, which coincides with the 25th anniversary of the historic World Social Forum, brought together delegations from various continents, reported Brasil de Fato (BdF) on their website.

The communications secretary of the National Confederation of Education Workers (CNTE), Ieda Leal, asserted that this mobilization reflects the continuity of just causes on a global scale. It was stated to the world that “democracy will be defended.”

Slogans in various languages ​​and cultural expressions marked the route to evoke the internationalist spirit that characterized Porto Alegre during the World Social Forum in 2001.

Olívio Dutra, former governor of Rio Grande do Sul, defined fascism as “a violent phase of capitalism” and defended popular participation as the basis of a real revolutionary process.

The Portuguese deputy João Oliveira insisted that the mobilization of the people is key in the face of current challenges.

The Mexican Fernando Tecuatl and the Argentine Ingrid Urrutia highlighted the urgency of strengthening lasting alliances and the importance of promoting unity in the streets in the face of adverse contexts in Latin America and the Caribbean.