Brazilian police used tear gas and rubber bullets Thursday night to disperse thousands of protesters in Sao Paulo who had been chanting, “The love is over Turkey is right here” before fleeing the law enforcement onslaught.

At least 55 people were injured and 60 arrested during the fourth  demonstration in a week. The protests were originally aimed at a hike in the city’s bus fares, but diverse groups came together after serious clashes with police Tuesday.

In Thursday’s violence, two journalists from Folha de S. Paulo, Brazil’s highest-circulation newspaper, were struck in the face with rubber bullets, the paper reported. Two other journalists were imprisoned and then released. Social networks in Brazil were abuzz with denunciations of police excess.

The crowd that formed earlier Thursday outside the Municipal Theater in South America’s largest city drew together a combination of students, citizens protesting police violence, representatives from various left-leaning parties and supporters of the original protest, which called for better and more equitable access to public transportation.

The original slogan of the “Free Pass Movement” was “If the fare doesn’t come down, the city will be stopped.” But when a demonstration  Tuesday was marred by injuries and vandalism, both of Sao Paulo’s major newspapers — which are right-of-center — called for police to crack down.

At first, the crowd moved peacefully through the streets, with some waving Turkish flags in recognition of the protests there. A small minority wore masks. Workers and residents cheered from windows; others complained of traffic jams caused by the protest.

Law enforcement authorities announced they would do just that.

Many of the protesters marching on the city’s main streets were shocked by the speed and force of Thursday’s police operation.

Police fired rubber-coated bullets and tear gas, detaining some 40 people in centre of Sao Paulo.

Police say they seized petrol bombs, knives and drugs.

At least 55 people have been injured in the Sao Paulo clashes, says the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper.

The newspaper says six of its journalists have been wounded, two of them shot in the face.

Police have been trying to contain the demonstrators.

They have now reached the city’s main avenue, Avenida Paulista, where many shops were vandalised on Tuesday following a bus fare hike protest.

State governor Geraldo Alckmin branded the rioters “vandals” and promised to act to avoid a repeat of the violence.

“The police acted with professionalism,” Mr Alckmin said, rejecting claims that they had used excessive force.

Brazil’s Minister of Justice, Jose Eduardo Cardozo, said the demonstrations were legitimate but resorting to violence and vandalism was unacceptable.

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