A week of unexpected and unprecedentedly widespread street protests that turned violent at times has left Brazilians both apprehensive and hopeful about their future. After days of what aides described as “perplexity”, President Dilma Rousseff tried to calm the nation on Friday with a televised address, promising to work with all parties, governors and mayors to improve public services and reform a discredited political system. She tried to embrace the protests while vowing to restore public order and prevent the repetition of vandalism and looting in various cities and attacks against public buildings that had shocked the country.

Ms Rousseff’s speech did not work. Protesters ignored the president’s warnings against acts of violence that “damage Brazil’s image abroad” and continued to demonstrate. In S?o Paulo, a highway that leads to the city’s airport was blocked, forcing passengers to walk 5km to terminals, carrying their luggage. More than 100 flights were delayed or cancelled. Rallies will continue. Two-thirds of people polled in S?o Paulo say they want the protests to go on. After seeing public transport fares reduced by going to the streets, they now want better healthcare and education. A national day of protest has been called for July 1.

Fuelled by multiple grievances, from the poor quality of public services while millions of reals are spent to build football stadiums to revulsion against a political class seen as largely corrupt and self-serving, rallies held in more than 100 cities conveyed above all a deep sense of exasperation with the country’s slow pace of change. The sentiment is especially strong among the young emerging middle class that took to the streets. Beneficiaries of two decades of democracy with economic stability, they bought the dream of a more prosperous and equitable Brazil drummed up by their leaders and are now saying that it is time to start delivering.