On September 21, 2025, Brazil witnessed one of its biggest progressive demonstrations in years as tens of thousands took to the streets to oppose bills that would grant legal immunity to former President Jair Bolsonaro and sitting lawmakers.
Organizers Push Back on Immunity Measures
Trade unions, community groups, and left-leaning political parties coordinated the marches, which they say represent a broad pushback against attempts to undermine accountability.
Protests Follow Bolsonaro’s Coup Verdict
The mass gatherings came just days after Bolsonaro was convicted of attempting to stage a failed coup. Following his 2022 election loss, his supporters stormed key government buildings.
Protesters also rejected calls to pardon military figures involved—something Brazil has rarely seen since its dictatorship era.
Voices From the Demonstrations
In São Paulo, 63-year-old marketing worker Renato Fonseca wore a T-shirt reading “1964 Never Again” to evoke the military coup that ushered in two decades of rule by generals.
“We were close to another dictatorship under Bolsonaro,” he said. “I want our demonstration to eclipse right-wing rallies and push lawmakers to act.”
Controversial Moves in Congress
Meanwhile, conservative lawmakers in the lower chamber approved a fast-track proposal to soften penalties for Bolsonaro supporters jailed over the 2023 occupations of government buildings.
They also endorsed a rule empowering Congress to suspend investigations into its own members.
Lula Salutes the Mobilization
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva hailed the turnout online, sharing images from marches across the country.
“These rallies prove Brazilians will not accept impunity,” he wrote. “Parliament must put citizens’ needs first.”
Largest Progressive Rally Since 2022
Researchers at the University of São Paulo estimated about 40,000 people filled Avenida Paulista—the biggest left-wing gathering since Lula’s 2022 victory party there.
Protesters unfurled a 15-meter “No Amnesty” banner, responding to a prior Bolsonaro-aligned rally that displayed an American flag praising former U.S. President Donald Trump’s alleged interference in Brazil’s courts.
Defending Democracy With National Symbols
Scarlett Angelotti, a 62-year-old teacher, wore Brazil’s national soccer jersey—often a Bolsonaro trademark—to reclaim the symbol.
“This nation belongs to its citizens,” she said. “We’re here to defend democracy and oppose special treatment for those who tried to topple it.”
Music Legends Close Rio Rally
In Rio de Janeiro, crowds lined Copacabana Beach chanting “Lock up Bolsonaro” and “No forgiveness!”
The event ended with performances by celebrated singers Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, and Chico Buarque—artists once exiled during the military dictatorship.
