Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro led a massive protest in São Paulo on September 7, 2024, Brazil’s Independence Day, targeting Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes. The rally, which drew thousands of supporters, focused on criticizing Moraes for his recent decision to suspend the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) in Brazil.Bolsonaro, who is currently facing multiple investigations and is ineligible to run for office until 2030, called Moraes a ‘dictator’ and urged the Senate to impeach him. ‘We must put a stop to those who cross the limits of our Constitution,’ Bolsonaro declared, referencing the recent suspension of X. The former president also expressed hope that ‘the Federal Senate will put a brake on Alexandre de Moraes, this dictator who does more harm to Brazil than Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva himself’.The protest featured calls for amnesty for those involved in the January 8, 2023 attacks on government buildings in Brasília. Bolsonaro defended these invasions as a moment of ‘catharsis’ where the population ‘lost itself,’ but ‘never was a coup’.While the event drew thousands, estimates suggest it had fewer attendees than previous Bolsonaro rallies. The University of São Paulo researchers estimated around 45,000 people attended, compared to 185,000 at a February rally.The suspension of X, which has 22 million users in Brazil, was ordered by Moraes, citing the platform’s disregard for court decisions on combating misinformation. This action has been viewed by Bolsonaro’s supporters as censorship and an abuse of power.Meanwhile, current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva held a separate Independence Day parade in Brasília, where he emphasized that his government would ‘always be intolerant of anyone who challenges Brazilian legislation’.
Key points
- Bolsonaro led a large protest in São Paulo against Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes, calling him a ‘dictator’.
- The protest focused on criticizing Moraes for suspending the social media platform X in Brazil.
- Bolsonaro called for Moraes’ impeachment and amnesty for those involved in the January 8, 2023 attacks.
- The protest drew fewer attendees than previous Bolsonaro rallies.
Contradictions👾While most sources reported thousands of protesters, one source claimed over a million people attended.
This significant discrepancy in crowd size estimates highlights the potential for exaggeration in politically charged events.
