Salvem os Ricos
The Great Rich’s Protest March took place on 25 October 2011 in Leblon. In this intervention, which happened 5 days before the second round of the Presidential elections, the performers who were dressed to put across an impression of them being wealthy, took part in a parade, demonstrating about issues traditionally associated with rich people’s concerns such as the protection and preservation of heritage, taking an ironic look at how the fight for social inequality does not feature at all in the concerns of certain groups in society. Armed with placards and banners bearing messages such as “Zona Sul beaches for residents and tourists only” or “Hunger is for the poor, I say yes to degustation”, “Say no to financial aid for families, say yes to Louis Vuitton!” or “Be independent! Say no to public services”, the performers established an ironic dialogue with residents and invited them to take part in the demonstration. At the end of the action, the placards were placed in certain strategic places in Leblon. Based on the “Manif de droite” concept developed by French artists Fred Tousch and Philippe Nicolle and which many collectives and street artists have appropriated, the performance Save the Rich is trying to incite reflection on the social egoism of certain claims before the decisive election day, maintaining a constant ambiguity about the truth of these claims.