Battle of Praça da Sé

The Battle of Praça da Sé was a conflict between anti-fascists and integralists in the city center of São Paulo, Brazil, on October 7, 1934. Brazilian Integralist Action (AIB) had scheduled a rally for that day to commemorate two years of the Integralist Manifesto; as soon as they learned of this intention, antifascists in São Paulo tried to prevent the event from taking place. With no central leadership, left-wing forces in São Paulo took part in the conflict, which resulted in seven deaths – those of an anti-fascist student, three Integralists, two police officers and a civil guard – and around thirty were wounded.

For left-wing activists, this event became a symbol of the anti-fascist campaign and the reactionary elements of national politics. The battle, as well as the identification of the body of the young militant Tobias Warchavski, triggered a political campaign against the repressive policy of the Getúlio Vargas government. The campaign, combined with anti-fascist sentiment, boosted a general movement against the reaction and aimed for the formation of a broad progressive front, which was achieved with the formation of the National Liberation Alliance by the Brazilian Communist Party.