Demonstrators occupied a section of Avenida Paulista this Sunday afternoon (14) to protest against the reduction of sentences and the amnesty of those convicted of the coup plot, including the former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL). Organized by the presidential base Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), The national mobilization also puts pressure on the National Congress to approve programs of interest to the government, such as the end of the 6×1 day.
In addition to the motto “no amnesty”, participants call Congress the “enemy of the people”, criticizing parliamentarians who prioritize their own interests. This strategy is part of coordination between the government and the social base to try to advance a popular agenda, which includes what is called “tax justice” and the expansion of social rights. The clash increased friction between executive and legislative leaders.
Scheduled for 2 p.m., at the São Paulo Art Museum (Masp), the demonstration began under the threat of rain, as meteorologists predicted, but with the weather still dry. The alleys in both directions of the avenue were invaded, in front of the museum, by war cries and messages such as “Rotten Congress” and “prison for putschists”.
One of the main targets of the demonstration is the President of the Chamber, Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB), who decided to introduce PL dosimetry by surprise last week. Among the choruses heard in Paulista, one of them was “fora, Hugo Motta”.
The demonstration was called by the Povo sem Medo and Brasil Popular fronts, which bring together hundreds of social movements, and reinforced by trade union organizations and left-wing parties, such as the PT, the Psol and the PC do B. The authorities and parliamentarians from Lula’s base were also present. One of the intentions was to repeat the street mobilization carried out in September against the Blindagem PEC, which ended up being buried in the Senate following popular pressure.
The forecast, according to organizers, was that at least 51 cities would hold protests this Sunday, including all 27 capitals.
In Brasilia, the event took place in the morning, on the Esplanada dos Ministérios. The main standard of the demonstrators is the rejection of the PL on dosimetry, approved in the Chamber of Deputies and which should be voted on this week in the Senate. In Rio de Janeiro, during an event scheduled for the afternoon, the announcement of the presence of artists such as Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Paulinho da Viola was used to attract more participants.
The act against PCE of Blindagem, three months ago, it brought together 42,400 people on Avenida Paulista, according to a survey by the Political Debate Monitor of the Brazilian Center for Analysis and Planning (Cebrap), a partnership between the University of São Paulo (USP) and the NGO More in Common. In Rio de Janeiro, according to researchers, the audience at that time was 41.8 thousand people. The figures for this Sunday should be revealed at the end of the day.
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