Brazilian protesters gathered in all 26 states and the Federal District on Sunday against potential pardons for former President Jair Bolsonaro and his allies, who were convicted of attempting a coup. The protests followed a constitutional amendment passed by the lower house that would make it harder to arrest lawmakers.
The move now heads to the Senate, where a bill granting amnesty to Bolsonaro and hundreds of supporters is expected to be fast-tracked. However, Bolsonaro denied any wrongdoing in his 27-year prison sentence for attempting to stay in power after losing re-election.
Prominent artists Caetano Veloso, Chico Buarque, and Gilberto Gil joined the protests, alongside singer Anitta and actor Wagner Moura. They expressed their outrage over the proposal, emphasizing the importance of holding politicians accountable through voting.
The country remains divided on Bolsonaro’s conviction, with a majority supporting his imprisonment and 50% believing he should be jailed, according to recent polls.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/21/americas/brazil-protest-bill-pardon-bolsonaro-intl-latam