Between April and June this year, the Landless Workers’ Movement (MST, in Portuguese) will carry out the 11th edition of University Day in Defense of Popular Agrarian Reform, known in Brazil as JURA. About 50 higher education institutions from all Brazilian regions will host activities.
The mobilization was launched on Wednesday (20) with social media buzz. People from all over the country are invited to share photos showing their relationship with the MST in higher education institutions, using the tag #NaUniversidadeComMST (“At the university with the MST”, in a rough translation) and tagging the Movement's social media accounts.
This year, JURA adopted the motto “MST: 40 Years of Fight and Work!” and will recall the movement’s history, highlighting its crucial role in the fight for land and leadership as one of the most important people’s movements in Latin America.
Organized in partnership with universities, professors, social organizations and people’s movements part of Via Campesina, JURA intends to be a place to promote education and initiatives that strengthen social organizations and build collective struggles in defense of workers’ rights in urban and rural areas.
Among the activities that will take place, there will be fairs, seminars, workshops, debates, the creation of educational materials, experiences in Popular Agrarian Reform areas and the planting of seedlings. The expectation is to engage society in other initiatives, such as exhibitions and cultural shows, art workshops or the organization of panels, for example.
JURA was first held in 2013 during the 2nd National Meeting of University Professors with the MST, which was linked to the National Day of Struggles in Defense of Agrarian Reform. Over the years, more institutions and individuals have joined the event.
