massacre in brasil: dreams made real, part2 dawn came on confused and quiet – a few milling about – it was the quietest i had ever seen the camp -- so beautiful at dawn with the light low and cool – then the alarm sounded – I could see it wasn’t happening now – people started appearing slowly from all points gathering around a car with a sound system for news – it was plain and simple – 30 trucks on their way all full of military police – all the time the siren didn’t stop ringing – more people came up to the barricades – many ran off to tell their loved ones – what a diverse group, old and young of every color and description with young children in their arms and little dogs running wild – surprisingly it was less panicky than the night before – they were solidifying the barricades quickly but there was little more to do – there was a quick interview of police brass for the corporate press -- the traffic had stopped on the street outside the encampment -- they had blocked all the roads leading to the camp -- i had no idea what was happening on the other side but hoped there might be an escape route there -- in the distance i could see the military police unloading from buses -- they were geared up like storm troopers with green and black war paint -- i photoed a line of women who had formed in front of the barricades and were praying and crying, some with their children in their arms -- soon there were about a hundred troops lined up in formation in three squadrons -- i started to realize just how hopeless this was -- a call went out for everyone to be at the barricade -- huge block of peaceful pilgrims collected there -- all ages and races with their hands in the air -- theresistance fighters had mostly vanished -- the military started to move in in formation with sheilds raised tight like a turtle shell -- i didnt see anyone even throw a stone -- suddenly behind me there was an explosion -- it was a concussion grenade launched from a tear gas rocket -- i was hiding behind the edge of a brick wall and was completely confused how it could be behind me with my eyes on the police -- another explotion directly behind me and i felt the slam against my skin and my ears went deaf ringing -- they were already in the camp -- it was pandemonium -- everyone was running and screaming -- as i ran i saw them coming from my flank -- and aiming to shoot again not more than thirty feet away -- then all hell broke losse -- suddenly there was gas, rubber bullets, concussion grenades on all sides -- immediately i recognized the sound of real bullets -- i tried twice to stop and film but only for seconds until bullets flew near by -- they were advancing on either side of me in large groups -- it wasnt safe anywhere in the streets -- i saw two women face down in the street -- i dont know if they were alive -- at my feet i saw blood mixed in the dry dirt -- everywhere people running in panic and screaming and trying to find some shelter from the barrage -- i headed to a back yard trying to cut through the backs of houses and was slowed by barbed wire between all the yards -- there was tall yuka plants giving me some cover as i ran -- the military units were already past me on the main avenue and running rampant shooting everything -- it was so terrifying -- they were shooting at anything that moved -- there was no where to go -- i looked up and a door opened and a woman was motioning for me to come in -- i ran inside with another older couple and they slammed the door to total darkness -- inside there were two babies trying to scream but the were gagging on the tear gas -- they showed me a bucket of water to wash off the gas -- a man opened the door to look out and i came around to film -- i saw military point at us and yell something -- we had our hands in the air but he and another raised there guns to shoot -- as the door slammed shut the bullets hit the house -- we all hit the ground -- one woman was having a panic attack -- i could smell gas from just outside creeping in -- they cracked a window the breathe and i could see two women with babies and a tiny yound girl on the bed -- the whole home was one small room and made of simple bricks and used furniture with two beds right next to the kitchen -- it was really beautiful and simple -- i imagined the bulldozer destorying it all with us inside -- the babies started to recover from the gas and the man opened another window but was seen by military and there was more shooting -- everyone was screaming i htink to get on the ground -- i didnt know what to do -- i tried to film but paced and walked over to the corner to cry -- what in gods name was happening out there -- the sound of shots and screaming was contant -- i was trembling -- there were police right outside yelling orders to come out -- the man yelled something back about being peaceful -- i yelled that i was international press -- he opened the door -- i raised my hands high with video camera in one hand -- they were in regular uniforms the woman who was panicked before passed out right in front of her husband as she walked out -- he grabbed for her -- the police made they they were going to shoot -- screaming at him i guess to put up his hands but they couldnt see his hands were holding his wife -- i yelled we needed a doctor -- it meant nothing to them -- finally he raised his hands and dropped her there on the ground -- i started walking out -- they had pistols drawn and pointed at my head -- i couldnt understand what they were screaming at me but they looked like they would shoot -- i kept repeating i didnt understand -- i was an international journalist -- they mimed to keep my head down -- as i walked out with my head down a few of they ran up and slammed into me, twisting my arms and kicking my feet out -- i got punched in the head and another jumped on top of me -- after they ripped the camera out of my hand and had me in plastic cuffs they started kicking me again -- i got one of the officers names who beat me, torres -- he seemed like he was in command and picked me up and started screaming questions at me -- i asked if he spoke spanish and he screamed no one speaks spanish in here -- one of the others handed him my camera and i got a woman cop to put my glasses in my front pocket -- they started ripping through my bag -- i told them again i was a journalist from new york city -- they started to cut my bag off my back but i managed to explain how to get it off -- there were other more official looking officers in white uniforms who appeared near by and seemed to pretend they were not interested with their name tags turned away from me -- they yanked me back to the main avenue and motioned me to head off toward the main entrance -- the plastic cuffs were so tight even the adreneline couldnt stop the pain -- i was completely confused but saw women with children walking the same direction and just followed them leaving my video camera still running in torres´s hands -- there were troops still coming in with different kinds of uniforms -- there was still shooting but a lot of it was further away deeper in the camp -- there was a long empty street and i saw a cat scurry across and crouch under a fence -- everyone was getting evicted today -- as i was walking i recognized a policeman from the corporate press interview -- he stopped me and started looking through my bag -- i told him i was a journalist from the usa -- it seemed to mean nothing to any of them -- as he was rifling through my things a huge military policeman with a mask pulled up and black bullet proof vest stopped and looked at my credencials -- he said they were fake and slammed me upside the head with an open hand so hard i almost fell off my feet except the other officer who was smiling now still had me by the arm and was holding me steady for the other --he led me toward the entrance where the barricades had been pushed aside -- in front of me were hundreds of detainees kneeling on the ground -- two cuffed together at the wrist -- there was black smoke coming up in a half dozen different parts of the camp -- i could still here the shooting -- they pushed me onto my knees with the other prisoners -- what the fuck next http://www.midiaindependente.org/