Thousands gather for protests in Brazil Sao Paulo, Brazil: Protesters showed up by the thousands in Brazil's largest cities on Monday night in a remarkable display of strength for an agitation that had begun with small protests against bus-fare increases, then evolved into a broader movement by groups and individuals irate over a range of issues including the country's high cost of living and lavish new stadium projects. The growing protests rank among the largest and most resonant since the nation's military dictatorship ended in 1985, with demonstrators numbering in the tens of thousands in Sao Paulo, Brazil's largest city. Other large protests unfolded in cities like Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Curitiba, Belm and Brasilia, the capital, where marchers made their way to the roof of Congress. Sharing a parallel with the anti-government protests in Turkey, the demonstrations in Brazil intensified after a harsh police crackdown last week stunned many citizens. In images shared widely on social media, the police here were seen beating unarmed protesters with batons and dispersing crowds by firing rubber bullets and tear gas into their midst. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of major Brazilian cities protesting the billions of dollars spent on the Confederations Cup --and preparations for the upcoming World Cup-- and against the hike in mass transit fares. "The violence has come from the government," said Mariana Toledo, 27, a graduate student at the University of Sao Paulo who was among the protesters on Monday. Such broad protests are relatively uncommon in Brazil, with some Brazilian political analysts describing what appeared to be a political culture more accepting of longstanding high levels of inequality and substandard public services than citizens in some neighbouring countries in South America. Fabio Malini, a scholar who analyses data patterns in social media at the Federal University of Esprito Santo, said he was impressed by the movement's refusal to be defined by a single objective and by its extensive use of social media. One issue surging to the fore involves anger over stadium projects in various cities ahead of the 2014 World Cup, which Brazil is preparing to host. Some projects have been hindered by cost overruns and delays, the unfinished structures standing as testament to an injection of resources into sports arenas at a time when schools and public transit systems need upgrades. "The largest protests are happening in cities which will host World Cup games," Mr Malini said. Brazilians are mixing soccer and politics in a way that is new, and minority voices are making themselves heard.