A new age of protests

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CNN, By: Frida Ghitis, 06/19/2013

Protesters in Rio battled police late on June 19, even after Brazil's two biggest cities rolled back the transit fare hikes that triggered <a  data-cke-saved-href='http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/18/world/americas/brazil-protests-montague/index.html?hpt=hp_c2' href='http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/18/world/americas/brazil-protests-montague/index.html?hpt=hp_c2'>two weeks of nationwide protests</a>. The fare rollback in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro marked a major victory for the protests, which are the biggest Brazil has seen in two decades.

(CNN) -- Presidents, prime ministers and assorted rulers, consider that you have been warned: A massive protest can start at any time, seemingly over any issue, and can grow to a size and intensity no one expected. Your country's image, your own prestige, could risk unraveling as you face the wrath of the people.

 

The newest iconic images from Turkey and from Brazil -- two countries that have promoted themselves as models to emulate -- include shocking scenes of police brutality, of government clampdown against peaceful protesters. We have entered a new age of protests. While politics remain intensely local, individuals are more interconnected.

 

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