Brazil’s Landless Workers’ Movement

Brazil’s Landless Workers’ Movement

The Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST or Landless Workers’ Movement) is a Marxist social movement of over three decades of activity with a membership of around 1.5 million. MST aims to provide access to land to poor workers while simultaneously attacking such issues as income inequality, racism and sexism which uphold the capitalist system in both the cities and the countryside.

MST has been demonized in the media and targeted for violence. President Jair Bolsonaro has characterized MST as a “terrorist organization” and let it be known that “their time has come”. Despite the accelerated aggression brought on by Bolsonaro’s government, MST continues its work. In this session, we’ll discuss the history of MST, their organizing strategies and activities, and their response to the current crisis caused by COVID-19 pandemic.

Below, you will find a recording of the session.