November 9th Memorial
Built in honor of workers William, Valmir and Barroso, who were killed during the historic strike at Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN), the 9 de Novembro Memorial is a landmark of the workers' struggle in Volta Redonda. The monument is located in Praça Prefeito Juarez Antunes and was inaugurated on May 1, 1989, Workers' Day, as a symbol of resistance and memory.
The project was designed by Oscar Niemeyer, one of the greatest names in Brazilian architecture, who put his artistic sensitivity to work for a deeply social cause. The work pays tribute to the workers murdered on November 9, 1988, during a violent repression of the strike at CSN — one of the most remarkable episodes in the recent history of the city and the Brazilian labor movement.
More than a tourist attraction, the Memorial is a space for reflection, social justice and preservation of memory. There, visitors can learn a little more about Volta Redonda's role in the fight for labor rights and democracy at the end of the military dictatorship.
Frequently used as a place for tributes and demonstrations, the 9 de Novembro Memorial represents the combative spirit of the workers of the “Steel City” and continues to be one of the main symbols of the city's social and political identity.
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