Lula supporters take to Brazil's streets, warn far-right fight is not over
Key Takeaways
- Students and social movements gathered in São Paulo following Lula's election win over Flávio Bolsonaro.
- UNE leaders accused the defeated senator of challenging the election result and attempting to undermine democracy.
- Demonstrators demanded protection for indigenous communities and pledged to remain politically active after the election.
Students and social movements celebrated Lula's election victory in São Paulo while accusing Flávio Bolsonaro of challenging the result and demanding stronger protection for indigenous communities.
The election may be over, but supporters of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva say their fight against the far right is far from finished.
Students, social movements and Lula supporters gathered in central São Paulo on Sunday to celebrate his election victory over Senator Flávio Bolsonaro and demand continued action to protect democracy.
The demonstration, organised by the National Union of Students (UNE), was held under the theme "Brazil with S: from the streets to the ballot box".
Protesters carried placards supporting indigenous communities, while student leaders criticised Bolsonaro's response to his electoral defeat.
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UNE president Bianca Borges accused the senator of attempting to undermine the election result by declaring himself president.
"Today we have taken to the streets to denounce the coup attempt by the far right, expressed in the letter in which Flavio Bolsonaro proclaimed himself president of Brazil," Borges said.
She also claimed that the US Government had not supported Bolsonaro's position.
"The fact is that Flavio Bolsonaro disappeared from Brazil because he was not contesting an election, but a 'habeas corpus', and he knew that, as soon as his privileged immunity ended, he could be detained and tried for his crimes," Borges added about the charges against Bolsonaro, who is currently in the US.
Beyond the election, demonstrators raised concerns about reported violence against indigenous communities and called for greater protection of indigenous rights.
One protester, identified as Ana, said Lula's victory did not mean citizens should stop demanding political and social change.
"We have seen the power of protest and the unity of the people. And now that the elections are over, our struggle is not over," she said.
Ana also expressed concern about the "predominance of the right" in government positions, arguing that public participation remained necessary to influence Brazil's political direction.
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"There are many reasons to demonstrate here in Brazil. There is no lack of reasons. Mainly because we have faced, and continue to face daily, a struggle for democracy," she noted.
Another demonstrator, Jose, said the mobilisation was intended to show that public protests could influence political developments beyond Brazil.
"That is precisely what we want to take to Latin America: the power of the streets, without conservatism, and to show that the street also has its own voice," he said.
The São Paulo demonstration was part of a wider series of events organised by UNE across Brazilian cities to maintain student and social movement participation in public debate.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
