Activists in Brazil change name of "State of Israel" street to "Palestine"

Activists and supporters of the Palestinian people in the Brazilian city of São Paulo changed the name of a street bearing the name "State of Israel" by covering its sign with a poster reading "Free Palestine from the river to the sea," as part of solidarity movements with the Palestinian people. The activist Brazilian Tiago Ávila participated in the move, along with activists from movements in solidarity with Palestine. Circulating footage showed participants covering the street sign, located in the southern area of São Paulo, with a sign bearing the name of Palestine and slogans supporting the Palestinian cause. Ávila said, in a post on his Instagram account after the move, that the event was in solidarity with Palestinians, and criticized the continued casualties and the Israeli occupation's restrictions on humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, and also criticized Israeli and American policies towards Palestinians. Ávila is one of the most prominent Brazilian activists participating in pro-Palestine movements, and previously participated in naval flotillas heading to the Gaza Strip, before being detained by occupation authorities and then deported to Brazil last May. Ávila is currently running for the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies for the state of São Paulo, as a candidate for the Sustainability Network party. The popular move coincides with official activity within Brazilian municipal institutions, led by Santos City Council member Débora Camilo, of the Socialism and Liberty party, who submitted a bill to change the name of "State of Israel Square" to "Palestinian Journalists Square."