Rio de Janeiro's 'Tolerância Zero' program hit by protests and court fight

Informal vendors on Rio de Janeiro's south‑zone beaches have staged a fourth consecutive protest, gathering in front of the Hotel Fasano in Ipanema with pots, whistles and slogans such as “Unidos podemos trabalhar”. Their leaders, including Maria de Lourdes do Carmo of the Movimento Unido dos Camelôs (Muca), demand a dialog with the municipality, regularisation of licences and an end to what they describe as the criminalisation of street vendors.

Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere and the local merchants association (Fecomércio‑RJ) defend the "Tolerância Zero" programme, launched on 16 July, saying it fights organised crime that exploits the beachfront public space. The operation deploys about 320 agents, drones and hidden cameras across Leme, Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon.

The Federal Public Ministry (MPF) filed a civil public action seeking an immediate suspension of the programme, arguing that the city acted without a federal beach‑management agreement and without a plan to regularise legitimate sellers. The MPF also stresses that the crackdown disproportionately affects vulnerable workers, many of whom are Black, migrants or refugees. The mayor rejected the claim, labeling the MPF’s request an “inversion of values”. The dispute continues as both sides call for negotiations while the legal case proceeds in federal court.