Thirty or so residents of the Vila Autodromo settlement in the Barra de Tijuca neighborhood completely shut down traffic, holding signs in protest of the demolition of their homes.
Most of the settlement’s residents have already moved after being both pressured and incentivized to leave by the local government. However around 50 families refused to leave despite the the inaccessibility to basic utilities like power and water.
Rio’s City Hall says the land occupied by Vila Autodromo is necessary to build a road to access the park. Residents, however, believe the city will be building luxury apartments on the land instead.
"City Hall has never had any patience to properly negotiate with us. Now it's time to shout about our pain, our exclusion," said 69-year-old Inalva Brito, who has lived in Vila Autodromo for 40 years, told Reuters.
