MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazilians march against proposed amnesty bill

Bolsonaro's opponents hope that Sunday's demonstrations would deter lawmakers from moving forward

Thousands of Brazilians took to the streets in several cities, including Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Salvador, to protest against a proposed amnesty bill, which would benefit former President Jair Bolsonaro and others who have been convicted for their alleged participation in the Jan. 8, 2023, attempted coup d'état.

The protests, organized by various social and political movements, were a direct response to the House of Deputies' decision to fast-track the bill. While the legislation initially targets those who vandalized government buildings on Jan. 8, there are fears that it could be expanded to include other individuals convicted of coup plotting, including Bolsonaro himself, who has been sentenced to more than 27 years in prison.

The demonstrations, held under the slogan “Congress, enemy of the people,” featured performances by prominent Brazilian cultural figures. In Rio, musicians like Caetano Veloso and Chico Buarque performed for a large crowd on Copacabana Beach.

In São Paulo, protestors held a giant Brazilian flag, while in Salvador, actor Wagner Moura and singer Daniela Mercury led the rally.

Protests were also held in other Brazilian cities and by Brazilian expatriates in Lisbon, London, and Berlin. The bill still needs to be approved by a majority of deputies before moving on to the Senate.

As it stands, bill rapporteur Paulinho da Força is working on a final draft. He plans to hold key meetings this week with Speaker Hugo Motta as well as with leaders of various political parties before penning out a final project.

Meanwhile, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro criticized the celebrities who were at the protests, calling them “amnestied against amnesty.”