Brazil Erupts: Thousands Demand ‘No Amnesty’ for Bolsonaro After Coup Conviction
Brazil Erupts: Thousands Demand ‘No Amnesty’ for Bolsonaro After Coup Conviction
Brazil is currently experiencing widespread unrest as tens of thousands of citizens have taken to the streets, vehemently protesting against any potential amnesty for former President Jair Bolsonaro. These massive demonstrations follow Bolsonaro’s recent conviction and 27-year prison sentence earlier this month for his role in plotting a coup to retain power after his 2022 election defeat to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
This past Sunday saw colossal crowds fill public spaces and iconic beaches in major Brazilian cities, unified in their demand for “Sem anistia” (“No amnesty”). The demonstrations directly challenge right-wing attempts to grant Bolsonaro clemency for his failed power grab, which reportedly included plans to assassinate President Lula, Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin, and a Supreme Court justice. Spearheaded by revered musicians like Caetano Veloso, Chico Buarque, and Gilberto Gil – icons of the fight against Brazil’s 1964-85 military dictatorship – the protests underscore a deep commitment to democracy. Addressing thousands on Rio’s Copacabana beach amidst scorching temperatures, 83-year-old Veloso declared, “The Brazilian people elected Lula – and that’s why democracy in Brazil endures.”
Anger also simmered over the conservative-dominated lower house’s approval this week of controversial draft legislation, dubbed the “Bandit’s Bill,” which critics fear would shield lawmakers from charges or arrest. Celebrities, including Golden Globe-nominated actor Wagner Moura, joined rallies across major cities like Salvador, São Paulo, and Belo Horizonte, decrying both this bill and congressional efforts to lessen Bolsonaro’s sentence. Moura, known for Netflix’s Narcos, lauded Brazil’s “extraordinary moment” of democracy post-conviction, contrasting it with perceived democratic setbacks in the US under Bolsonaro’s ally, Donald Trump, whose attempts to interfere in Bolsonaro’s trial were unsuccessful.
Even in Brasília, where Bolsonaro remains under house arrest, thousands gathered near the very government buildings attacked by right-wing radicals during his 2023 coup attempt. International solidarity was also evident, with protests occurring in cities such as Berlin, Lisbon, and London. These widespread demonstrations, marking Brazil’s largest pro-democracy rallies in years, echo historical struggles. Chico Buarque, who faced exile during the military dictatorship, emphatically rejected a repeat of the 1979 amnesty, stating, “We do not want a repeat of the 1979 amnesty… which meant that nobody was punished [for the regime’s crimes].” He dismissed the notion that amnesty would ease political tensions, asserting, “It was the putschists who committed the crime. We [democrats] owe them nothing.”
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