Protests were staged across all 26 states and the federal district in Brazil on Sunday, with citizens expressing their opposition to a potential amnesty for former President Jair Bolsonaro and his allies, who were convicted for attempting a coup.
The demonstrations grew after the lower house passed a constitutional amendment on Tuesday, which would make it harder to arrest lawmakers or initiate criminal action against them. The bill will now move to the Senate.
Highlighting the January 2023 coup attempt, the lower house rapidly approved a bill supported by right-wing opposition lawmakers that could give amnesty to Bolsonaro, his closest associates, and hundreds of supporters found guilty for their roles in the attempted coup. Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison on September 11th for trying to stay in power after losing the 2022 election.
Numerous prominent artists organized and promoted Sunday’s demonstrations. Brazilian musicians Caetano Veloso, Chico Buarque, and Gilberto Gil – who faced censorship during the 1960s military dictatorship – united in a protest at Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro.
Veloso commented on Saturday, “I was very angered by the news that many lawmakers voted in favor of a security law for themselves and their associates. Along with this, a proposal to grant amnesty to those who plotted the coup was also put forward. I think I agree with the majority of the Brazilian population, who do not want this to happen.”
Rio de Janeiro native and superstar Anitta also condemned the bill. She asserted that the public directs the country’s politics. “We have the right and the duty to hold leaders accountable, we vote, and they are elected to work for the good of the people.”
Teacher Dulce Oliveira, participating in the protest, declared the demonstrations necessary to show the leaders what the people want: “They are there to protect our interests, not their own.” Actor Wagner Moura joined the protest in Salvador, Bahia. He told the crowd that he didn’t want to discuss the bill.