Community Policing and the Right to Protest: Public Security, Democratic Participation, and Social Movements in Brazil

Abstract

This article analyzes the relationship between citizen-oriented policing, public security, and the right to protest in Brazil, with particular attention to the role of the Military Police in demonstrations and social movements. The study adopts a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive approach, based on a bibliographic review and documentary analysis of the 1988 Federal Constitution, relevant legislation, and theoretical literature on democracy, citizenship, political participation, and public security. It argues that public demonstrations are legitimate forms of democratic participation and must be protected by the state, while also requiring the preservation of public order and personal safety. The article maintains that police action in protest contexts must be guided by human rights, legality, necessity, and proportionality in the use of force. It concludes that the consolidation of democratic policing requires institutional oversight, rights-based training, and broader social participation in the design of public security policies.