Brazil’s Dance with the Devil: Dave Zirin on the People’s Revolt Challenging 2014 World Cup | Democracy Now!
In his new book, "Brazil’s Dance with the Devil: The World Cup, the
Olympics, and the Fight for Democracy," sportswriter Dave Zirin tackles
the growing unrest in Brazil in the lead-up to one of sport’s biggest
spectacles. Thousands of police officers have joined bus drivers for day
two of a massive strike in São Paulo, just weeks before the World Cup
is set to begin. Meanwhile, more than 10,000 people have occupied a lot
next to one of the arenas that will host the World Cup’s opening match.
They call their protest "The People’s Cup" and are opposing the nearly
half a billion dollars spent on the stadium, even as their communities
lack adequate hospitals and schools. Demonstrations throughout the
country have called attention to similar concerns. Zirin joins us to
discuss the protests rocking Brazil, as well as the biggest sporting
controversy in the United States — the NBA’s attempt to oust owner
Donald Sterling over his racist comments about African Americans. Zirin
is a sports columnist for The Nation magazine and host of Edge of Sports
Radio on SiriusXM.
