Thousands of Brazilians have taken to the streets, voicing their opposition to granting amnesty to former President Jair Bolsonaro after his conviction of plotting a coup. The far-right populist was sentenced to 27 years in prison for attempting to cling to power and assassinate opponents, including Vice-President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Brazil’s pro-democracy protests were spearheaded by legendary musicians Caetano Veloso, Chico Buarque, and Gilberto Gil, who performed at rallies across the country. The crowds chanted “Sem anistia” (“No amnesty”) as they expressed their anger towards right-wing efforts to help Bolsonaro escape jail.
The protests were also joined by actors, musicians, and politicians, with many calling for accountability from politicians and reducing Bolsonaro’s sentence as part of a broader effort to “pacify” the country. The rallies came ahead of Brazil’s largest pro-democracy demonstrations in years, with thousands gathering in major cities including Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Belo Horizonte.
Despite protests overseas, many Brazilians remain opposed to granting Bolsonaro an amnesty, with Chico Buarque stating that it would be a repeat of the 1979 amnesty that allowed regime officials to go unpunished. The singer-songwriter believes that those who committed crimes should face justice, not be granted immunity.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/21/brazil-protest-against-jair-bolsonaro-amnesty