The Cautionary Tale of Brazil's Free Fare Movement | Activist History

The Movimento Passe Livre (MPL, or Free Fare Movement) in Brazil was a horizontal, autonomous, independent, anarchist movement that was formed to fight for free, high quality public transportation. Since it began in 2005, every time a city government has tried to increase fares, the MPL has responded with mass mobilization to oppose the increases and push for free fares. In 2013, this eventually snowballed into mass uprisings across Brazil, in what became known to many as the Brazilian Spring, that not only successfully stopped fare hikes across Brazil but also awakened a generation of young activists.