Brazil protests across 26 states against possible pardon for Bolsonaro and allies

Thousands of Brazilians demonstrated across all 26 states and the federal district Sunday, marching to oppose what organizers described as moves to pardon former President Jair Bolsonaro and hundreds of his allies who were convicted of attempting to overturn the 2022 election. The protests intensified after the lower house passed a constitutional amendment aimed at making it harder to arrest or prosecute lawmakers, a measure that now moves to the Senate. The following day, lawmakers in the chamber voted to fast-track a bill backed by right-wing opposition who argue the country needs to heal after a polarized period of politics. Supporters say the legislation could grant amnesty to Bolsonaro, his closest allies and hundreds of Bolsonaro supporters convicted for their roles in the January 2023 uprising.

In São Paulo, organizers estimated 42,400 people attended the protest, while 41,800 gathered in Rio de Janeiro, according to estimates by the University of São Paulo’s Monitor of Political Debate and the nonprofit More in Common. Pablo Ortellado, director of the Monitor, told The Associated Press the numbers in Brazil’s two largest cities represented the highest counts for a left-wing demonstration since Lula da Silva’s victory in 2022. Drone-based analysis was used to estimate crowd sizes. “Right-wing mobilizations have typically been three times larger than those of the left,” Ortellado said. “In recent months, that pattern has changed. The opposition’s support for (U.S. President Donald) Trump’s tariffs and for the amendment has brought the left back to the streets.”

Ana Paula Brito, a 37-year-old nanny who attended the São Paulo march, described the gathering as a stand against the prospect of a pardon for Bolsonaro and against proposals to shield lawmakers from prosecution. “They (politicians) are rich, have plenty of money and keep stealing. No funds are ever released for us. That’s one more reason we’re in the streets today,” Brito said.

Several of Brazil’s best-known artists helped organize and promote Sunday’s demonstrations. In Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana, Caetano Veloso, Chico Buarque and Gilberto Gil gathered with others to protest, a reunion that hearkened back to the days of censorship during Brazil’s military dictatorship in the 1960s. Veloso told Brazilian news outlet UOL that he was outraged by the deputies’ vote to shield lawmakers and by the move toward amnesty for the coup plotters, adding that he identified with a majority of Brazilians who oppose those measures.

Popular actor Wagner Moura attended the protest in Salvador, Bahia, addressing the crowd from a vehicle and emphasizing democracy rather than debating the details of the legislative proposals. Moura said the point was to celebrate a democratic moment in Brazil and to oppose actions that would undermine it.

The protests come as a broader pattern in a deeply polarized country. Ahead of Bolsonaro’s Supreme Court trial on Sept. 7, thousands of his supporters rallied in his defense. In contrast, left-leaning groups and artists have organized counter-demonstrations in recent days to urge lawmakers not to grant immunity to those who attempted to overturn the election. In conversation with supporters, some referenced international symbolism, including a previous demonstration in which a large U.S. flag was displayed, drawing attention to the broader debate about sovereignty and foreign influence. The United States has taken actions that have been interpreted by some in Brazil as aligning with or opposing Bolsonaro’s political fate, including sanctions on Brazilian officials deemed to have influenced the judiciary. Trump <em>called the trial a witch hunt</em> and, in July, announced a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports, a move that was cited by some in the protests as an attempt to pressure Brazil politically. The U.S. Treasury Department later sanctioned Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw the case against Bolsonaro and is viewed by Bolsonaro supporters as a foe.

Polls show Brazil remains deeply divided over Bolsonaro. Datafolha released Sept. 16 found 50% of respondents believed Bolsonaro should be jailed, while 43% disagreed and 7% declined to answer. The nationwide survey sampled 2,005 people and carried a margin of error of 2 percentage points.

Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison on Sept. 11 for attempting to stay in power after losing the 2022 reelection bid. He is the first former Brazilian president convicted of trying to overturn a presidential election in Latin America’s largest economy. Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing.

The Sunday demonstrations were organized by artists and left-wing groups that have struggled to mobilize crowds compared with the right. They come amid a broader public debate about the boundaries of accountability for elected officials and the proper balance between prosecutorial independence and political stability. As Brazil’s Senate considers the measures, the nation watches to see whether the protests will sustain momentum and whether lawmakers can reach a balanced resolution that upholds the rule of law while addressing the grievances raised by both sides of a deeply divided political spectrum.