Act against the SP government’s educational policy closed roads in the financial center of the capital of São Paulo; Students, professors and employees from USP, Unesp and Unicamp participate
Students, teachers and employees of state universities in São Paulo march against the governor (Republicans) this Wednesday (May 20, 2026). The group left Largo da Batata towards Palácio dos Bandeirantes and blocked sections of Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, the financial center of the capital of São Paulo.
Protesters criticize the São Paulo government’s educational policy, demand more resources for education and reject privatizations in the sector. The act was led by the left-wing parties UP (Popular Unity) and PSOL. Unions and social movements also participated.
Traffic Policing teams organize road flow, ensuring the safe movement of protesters and other road users.
— Military Police of the State of São Paulo (@PMESP)
According to the organizers, the concentration on Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima was more than 10 thousand people. The number comes from aerial images taken by our own drone. It is unclear how the count was carried out.
The march was stopped about 1km from Palácio Bandeirantes. The organizers claim that 3 police barriers, Choque vans and Military Police Cavalry prevented the passage.
O Poder360 asked the Public Security Secretariat about events during the demonstration. At the time of publication of this report, there was no response. The space remains open.
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The march was carried out in the context of the intensification of strikes on the campuses of USP (University of São Paulo), Unesp (Universidade Estadual Paulista) and Unicamp (Universidade Estadual de Campinas).
Students mainly demand improvements in the universities’ infrastructure, transport and permanence policy, in addition to the hiring of workers and employees.
Teachers and workers want to regain their purchasing power. Cruesp (Council of Rectors of São Paulo Universities) proposed a 3.47% salary increase. Categories require adjustment by (4.39% in the last 12 months) + 3%.
At USP, students have been on strike since April. Currently, 130 courses at the institution have their activities suspended. The movement gained strength after the rectory ended negotiations on the readjustment of the permanence allowance.
Students occupied the rectory building on May 7th in response to the end of negotiations. After 3 days, the Military Police forcibly vacated the place. According to the PM, there were no injuries. The National Union of Students that the action was “violent, illegal and illegitimate”.
At Unicamp, teachers, staff and students from 65 courses are paralyzed. At Unesp, there is a strike by teachers and workers on the Bauru campus. At least 42 courses at the institution are on hold.
