Rolezinhos

social and judicial exclusion of young people from the suburbs

Abstract

From the end of the year 2013 through January 2014, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, a social phenomenon that became known as “rolezinho” occurred (little walk, brief stroll, Flashmobs in shopping malls). Rolezinhos were actions within the spatial movement of lower class urban young people from the suburbs who – when they went to the malls in groups, in a space generally thought of as reserved for the upper classes – caused great impact, discussions and social and legal reactions. In light of this phenomenon, the objective of this study is to analyze how these social movements were received by the population and, especially, the resulting legal actions. Based on research in sociological studies and in the various legal proceedings initiated by the shopping centers, we will analyze the different legal interpretations of judges in the first and second instances of the state court. We concluded that the different social and legal reactions were based on suppositions marked by profound racism and social exclusion of young people from the suburbs.