São Paulo Must Be Destroyed: The Story of the Bombing of the Capital in the 1924 Revolt

The story of the bombing of the capital in the 1924 uprising.

This book deals with the merciless bombing of the country's second-largest city to suppress an uprising by the former São Paulo Public Force. The consequences of this revolt, which began on July 5, 1924, were dramatic for the civilian population. President Arthur Bernardes' government surrounded the São Paulo capital with a ring of iron and fire.

The Army's heavy artillery fired hourly at factories and working-class neighborhoods, attempting to pit the people and workers against the mutinous troops. Hundreds of buildings were destroyed or severely damaged by cannons sent by train from Rio de Janeiro. The streets were filled with rubble. Relief for the victims was extremely difficult. Since hearses could not circulate amid the relentless bombardment, hundreds of the dead were buried in backyards, squares, and gardens.

Around 300,000 people abandoned São Paulo, taking refuge in the countryside. Moacir Assunção relives the period's scenes and reconstructs the stories of characters who experienced the drama of the bombing firsthand, ensuring that the violence and madness of the 1924 uprising are not completely buried in oblivion.