Brazil sees protests against possible amnesty for Bolsonaro

Brazilian legislative initiatives that could grant amnesty to former President Jair Bolsonaro, recently sentenced to 27 years in prison, sparked massive protests across the country on Sept. 21, Reuters reported. The Associated Press noted that demonstrations were held in all 26 states as well as the federal district.

According to Reuters, the conservative-led lower house of Congress voted last week to accelerate review of a bill that may grant amnesty to Bolsonaro and his supporters convicted for the 2023 assault on government buildings, while lawmakers also passed a constitutional amendment that gives Congress new power to block criminal prosecution of federal lawmakers.

The Associated Press, citing data from the University of São Paulo’s Monitor of Political Debate and the nonprofit More in Common, reported that about 42,400 people joined the demonstrations in São Paulo and 41,800 in Rio de Janeiro as of Sept. 21.

These demonstrations, organized by social movements, unions and political parties, marked the biggest protest this month, with turnout in major cities rivaling recent right-wing rallies that followed the ex-president’s sentencing.