Thousands of people joined pro-government rallies in multiple cities

Supporters of President Dilma Rousseff's government gathered at the Museum of Republic near the Esplanade of Ministries in Brasília, in a rally against impeachment. The demonstration was called by Frente Brasil Popular movement, and the crowds were carrying posters with words in support for Rousseff and former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and against what they call a coup.

“This is a rally for democracy, against the rise of putschists and fascism in our country. We advocate a change of focus in Congress. They must stop having all eyes on impeachment and start working to advance the rights of the working class,” said a secretary of the Central Workers' Union for the Federal District, Rodrigo Rodrigues.

With slogans and words of criticism about Sérgio Moro, the judge in charge of a corruption investigation that has turned to former president Lula, as well as about opposition parties and Eduardo Cunha, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, protesters marched towards the National Congress building. Before that, they gathered in front of the Museum of Republic, which was lighted with the words, “There will be no coup” from a laser projector, and remained there for two hours. The projector was mounted onto a public address vehicle, and as the vehicle moved, the words followed along to appear on other government buildings.

According to police, more than 4,000 people were at the rally.

Northeast

In Salvador, Bahia, activists, students and representatives from trade unions and social movements in Bahia staged a rally against impeachment that began in the early afternoon in Campo Grande, a central district in the city. Similarly to demonstrations in other cities, the slogan was “There will be no coup”, and many of the protesters were carrying posters with messages of support for Rousseff. According to local police, more than 70,000 people joined the march toward Castro Alves square, a traditional meeting point in the city, where the event was closed.

In Fortaleza, Ceará, the crowd marched along downtown streets until they arrived at Ferreira square in the early evening. According to police, 7,000 people were at the rally.

In Recife, Pernambuco, protesters occupied Conde da Boa Vista avenue with maracatu and caboclinhos popular culture groups, and the famous giant puppets of Olinda. A carnival fabric dragon was also seen.

Most of the protesters were dressed in red, but some chose the national colors, yellow and green, among flags of Brazil and Pernambuco. The mobilization brought together political parties, social and trade union movements as well as individual, non-affiliated protesters.

Rio Grande do Sul

In Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, about 10,000 people gathered at the so-called Democracy Corner, at the intersection of Borges de Medeiros avenue and Andradas street. Protesters targeted Globo television network among their main complaints. The broadcaster's intense dissemination of news of investigations targeting former President Lula was seen as an “orchestration” to push for Rousseff's impeachment.

Lídia dos Santos, who works as a maid, said she feared the political instability in the country could lead to a state of exception like what happened in 1964. “I'm here because I want to stand up for a free country for my children. I have lived during the dictatorship and I can tell a coup when I see one in the making,” said Lydia.

In the intermissions between party and union leaders' addresses, the crowd cried, “There will be no coup, there will be fight.”

Amazonas

Dressed in red and white, blowing whistles, and carrying national, social movement, trade union, and Workers' Party flags, protesters in Manaus, Amazonas, shouted the same slogan that was heard in other cities: “There will be no coup!” The chairwoman of the Native and African Brazilian Association of Amazonas, Elisoneide Rodrigues, who is also a teacher, said that she joined the demonstration because she wanted to show support for President Dilma Rousseff.

“We, as black women, have been given more opportunity to make our proposals under Lula's and Dilma's governments. The black population is an overlooked sector of the society, but we found more space during their administrations,” she said.

Translated by Mayra Borges