Violence and resistance in the struggle for housing in Northern Minas:

The case of the Tereza de Benguela Occupation (MTST) in Montes Claros

Abstract

The concentration of a significant portion of the population in strategically named Urban Occupations reflects the historical roots of urban issues in Brazil. This dynamic, stemming from periods of colonization, is a consequence of unequal land distributions, with ownership concentrated in the hands of specific social groups, driven by policies that promoted the formation of large estates. The North of Minas is not oblivious to this reality, and land disputes have intensified, taking on a new category of analysis in the region: urban conflicts. This article provides an analysis through an account of the Tereza de Benguela Occupation (MTST) in Montes Claros, highlighting the increasing visibility of urban conflicts with the arrival of the Movimento dos Trabalhadores Sem Teto in the city. Initially, the study seeks to ground itself in the historical context of unequal land distribution in the municipality, followed by a description of the conflict that occurred in 2022 between families organized by the MTST and the local elite. In conclusion, the article proposes reflections on the specificities of violence and resistance in the struggle for housing in Montes Claros, in the North of Minas Gerais, emphasizing the contribution of social movements in the pursuit of the realization of the right to the city.