Tens of hundreds of protesters help Bolsonaro forward of coup trial verdict : NPR
In Brazil, tens of hundreds of protesters mobilized throughout the nation to help former President Jair Bolsonaro forward of the decision in his landmark coup trial.
A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
Brazil’s Independence Day was marked by protests Sunday in help of former President Jair Bolsonaro. The Trump ally is on trial for allegedly plotting a coup after shedding his 2022 reelection bid. A verdict is predicted this week. Julia Carneiro has this report.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: (Chanting in Portuguese).
JULIA CARNEIRO: On Sao Paulo’s Paulista Avenue, crowds chanted Brazil’s independence hymn to free the homeland or to die for Brazil.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: (Chanting in Portuguese).
CARNEIRO: Folks listed here are demanding amnesty for Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters on trial over the violent January 8 riots in Brasilia in 2023. Protester Fatima Silva (ph) says Bolsonaro is not receiving a good trial.
FATIMA SILVA: I do know that they need to condemn him. We’re going to battle till the top to see him free.
CARNEIRO: On stage, Bolsonaro’s spouse, Michelle Bolsonaro, and political allies handle the crowds.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
TARCISIO DE FREITAS: (Talking Portuguese).
CARNEIRO: Sao Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas shouts, sufficient abuse, accusing Supreme Court docket Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who’s main the case, of tyranny. The crowds reply with chants of, out with Moraes.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: (Chanting in Portuguese).
CARNEIRO: Amongst all of the Brazilian flags, there are additionally many American flags. President Trump has known as Bolsonaro’s trial a witch hunt and imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian exports in retaliation. Many right here nonetheless hail Trump as a savior, together with protesters like Alexandre Brasil (ph).
ALEXANDRE BRASIL: We’re very grateful to Mr. Trump as a result of with these form of actions, that is serving to our individuals to get up.
(SOUNDBITE OF TRIUMPHANT MUSIC)
CARNEIRO: However within the capital, Brasilia, Independence Day despatched a unique message, with banners studying Sovereign Brazil. In his handle, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva defended the nation’s independence.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
PRESIDENT LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA: (Talking Portuguese).
CARNEIRO: Lula mentioned Brazil was no person’s colony and wouldn’t settle for orders from anybody. The trial within the Supreme Court docket resumes on Tuesday. Bolsonaro is going through 5 expenses, together with trying to violently finish the democratic rule of regulation and plotting a coup. Now Brazil waits as a historic trial for its younger democracy heads towards a verdict. If discovered responsible, Bolsonaro could possibly be sentenced to as much as 40 years in jail.
For NPR Information, I am Julia Carneiro in Sao Paulo.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
Copyright © 2025 NPR. All rights reserved. Go to our web site phrases of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for additional data.
Accuracy and availability of NPR transcripts could fluctuate. Transcript textual content could also be revised to right errors or match updates to audio. Audio on npr.org could also be edited after its unique broadcast or publication. The authoritative report of NPR’s programming is the audio report.
