The price of a bus ticket in Brazil has risen nine cents, resulting in tens of thousands of Brazilians protesting in the streets, according to CNN. The bus ticket increased from 3.00 to 3.20 reais ($1.38 to $1.47).
The protestors aren't angry specifically about the nine-cent price increase as much as they are about the government nickel-and-diming the poorest people in Brazil and then using the money for lavish, high profile projects. The bus ticket price increase was the final straw for many.
Among those projects are massive stadiums and a renovated infrastructure in preparation for the World Cup, which Brazil is hosting in 2014. Two years later, the country will host the 2016 Olympics.
Demonstrators stormed the state capital buildings in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Some people set a fire outside the Sao Paulo capital. Riot police arrived on the scene and erected barricades, as well as releasing tear gas and rubber bullets on the protestors.
Some protestors tried to overtake the National Congress in the nation's capital Brasilia, but police were able to hold them off, according to Agencia Brasil.
Douglas Pinheiro was picked up by police, but he was able to convince them he wasn't one of the protestors and they let him go.
"We are also protesting alongside health workers, who are protesting against the poor state of the country's health system, students protesting against the education system," Pinheiro told CNN.
Fernando Jones was protesting in Rio de Janeiro, and shared the same thoughts.
"They destroyed schools to build parking lots for stadiums, hospitals are overcrowded, people are hungry on the streets," Jones said.
Some protestors have adorned themselves with the Guy Fawkes masks that have come to be associated with the group Anonymous in the U.S. The Occupy Wall Street group and Anonymous Brazil are both supporting the protestors on their web sites and Facebook pages.
"Peaceful demonstrations are legitimate and part of democracy," Dilma Rousseff, the president of Brazil, said in a statement on Monday. "It is right for the youth to protest."
Rousseff is a member of the Workers' Party of Brazil and has fought for social justice. Former president Lula da Silva also supported the protestors on his Facebook page.
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