Rio citizens protest the devastation of the National Museum. Police use tear gas

The National Museum in Rio de Janeiro, destroyed by fire on Sunday evening, is becoming a pressing urgency for the Brazilian government. Since Sunday, large numbers of Rio citizens had been crowding outside the devastated building to see what the fire had caused, and photographers had been recording scenes of living despair. Despair, however, soon turned into protest: there were hundreds of citizens outside the ruins of the museum on Monday, and many tried to force their way through police cordons, both to see up close how the beloved museum, Brazil’s largest, is reduced and to express anger at the government, held by several citizens responsible for the incident.

Police therefore had to disperse the protesters with tear gas. The Brazilian newspaper RT published a video in which some tense moments were recorded, with throwing of objects and attempts to tear apart the gates of the museum. Protesters displayed many signs against the government, some chastising it for its lack of attention to history and culture, others calling for more investment in the sector.

Pictured is a moment from the protest. Ph. Credit Oskar Ammoen

Rio citizens protest the devastation of the National Museum. Police use tear gas

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