Tens of thousands of Brazilians poured into the streets on Sunday, sending a clear and powerful message to lawmakers: no amnesty for former president Jair Bolsonaro.
From Rio de Janeiro’s world-famous Copacabana Beach to São Paulo’s bustling Paulista Avenue, crowds gathered to protest a controversial bill that could significantly reduce Bolsonaro’s prison sentence. The former president was convicted of plotting a coup to prevent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from taking office after the 2022 election and is currently serving a 27-year sentence.
If approved by the Senate, which is set to debate the proposal on Wednesday, the bill would make Bolsonaro eligible for parole after just over two years behind bars.
The demonstrations were organized by left-wing movements and civil society groups, with support from prominent cultural figures. Legendary singer Caetano Veloso joined the call to action after the conservative-led lower house of Congress unexpectedly passed the measure earlier in the week.
In Rio de Janeiro, nearly 19,000 protesters filled Copacabana with chants and banners declaring “No amnesty” and “Congress, enemy of the people.” Music echoed across the beach as artists performed on a small stage, blending protest with cultural resistance.
Actress Fernanda Torres addressed the crowd with an emotional speech, urging lawmakers to remember who they serve. She reminded protesters that the fight goes beyond one individual, touching on democracy, environmental protection, and women’s rights. Torres recently starred in Brazil’s first Oscar-winning film, Ainda Estou Aqui (I’m Still Here), which explores the scars left by the country’s 1964–1985 military dictatorship.
In São Paulo, an estimated 14,000 people packed Paulista Avenue, one of the city’s most symbolic public spaces. City councilor Keit Lima said the demonstrations were about defending democracy itself, insisting that accountability for those who attempt to undermine it is non-negotiable.
Protests also unfolded in the capital, Brasília, where demonstrators marched from the National Museum to Congress. Many warned that approving the bill would set a dangerous precedent, weakening the rule of law.
Beyond Bolsonaro, the proposed legislation would also reduce sentences for his supporters jailed after storming government buildings on January 8, 2023, just days after Lula’s inauguration. The attacks drew global attention and were widely compared to the January 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former president Donald Trump.
Bolsonaro’s allies in Congress have spent months exploring ways to soften his punishment. Earlier attempts at a broad amnesty collapsed following protests in September, but the sentence-reduction bill resurfaced this week amid political maneuvering within Brazil’s conservative bloc.
The timing is significant. Just days before the bill re-emerged, Bolsonaro publicly backed his son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, as a potential candidate for the 2026 presidential election. Flávio later suggested he would even step aside politically if it meant securing amnesty for his father, highlighting internal divisions among conservatives ahead of the next vote.
President Lula retains the power to veto the bill if it clears the Senate, though Congress could still override that decision.
At the Brasília protest, agronomist Viviane Anjos voiced fears shared by many demonstrators, warning that releasing Bolsonaro early would undermine Brazil’s Constitution and erode trust in the justice system. “We can’t let him out,” she said firmly.
At its heart, this movement is not just about one former president or one piece of legislation. For many Brazilians on the streets, it is about memory, accountability, and the hard-earned lessons of history. Their presence was a reminder that democracy, once threatened, survives only when ordinary people stand up to protect it.
