Silencing and Resistance: A Comparison of the Civil-Military Coup in the Coal Regions of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul

This article delves into the dynamics of the 1964 military coup in the coal regions of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, focusing on Criciúma and São Jerônimo, respectively. By examining the forced silencing of historical sources and the role of mining companies such as CADEM, the study reveals the active involvement of the labor movement, particularly miners from Butiá and Criciúma, in pre-coup national politics. Documents from the National Truth Commission are utilized to reconstruct cases of persecution, arrest, and torture of union leaders. The article highlights how the 1964 coup brutally repressed workers, eradicated documentary sources, and forcefully silenced those who dared to resist the new order, all while emphasizing regional variations in strategies of repression and resistance.

Keywords:
Civil-Military Coup of 1964; Repression; Resistance; Criciúma; São Jerônimo; National Truth Commission