Protests were held on Sunday throughout Brazil’s 26 states and the federal district, as people expressed their opposition to a possible amnesty for former President Jair Bolsonaro and his associates, all of whom were found guilty in connection with a coup attempt.
The demonstrations gained strength after the lower house passed a constitutional amendment on Tuesday, which would make it more difficult to arrest lawmakers or initiate criminal proceedings against them. This bill will now be considered by the Senate.
A focus of the protests was the January 2023 coup attempt. The lower house swiftly passed a bill backed by right-wing opposition members that could grant amnesty to Bolsonaro, his closest allies, and hundreds of supporters convicted for their roles in the attempted coup. Bolsonaro received a sentence of 27 years and three months in prison on September 11th for attempting to remain in power after losing the 2022 election.
Several prominent artists organized and promoted the Sunday protests. Brazilian musicians Caetano Veloso, Chico Buarque, and Gilberto Gil – who experienced censorship during the 1960s military dictatorship – came together for a protest in Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana area.
Veloso stated 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-born superstar Anitta also criticized the bill. She said that the people determine 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.”
“They are there to protect our interests, not their own,” stated Dulce Oliveira, a teacher who participated in the protest. Actor Wagner Moura attended the protest in Salvador, Bahia. He addressed the crowd and said that he didn’t want to discuss the bill.