Brazil’s Independence Day: Bolsonaro supporters invade Congress Street and the Supreme Court in Brasilia

Last Monday night, a pro-Bolsonaro demonstration invaded the Esplanada dos Ministérios, the road that gives access to the Congress and Supreme Court (STF) buildings and the Planalto Palace in Brasilia.

According to O Globo, protesters and trucks broke through the barricades set up by the military police, approached Congress and pitched tents in the park. The Brazilian newspaper also reported that the police were negotiating the departure of the demonstrators and blocked the road to prevent them from reaching Praca dos Tres Poderes, where the Supreme Court building is located.

Eduardo Bolsonaro, a federal representative and one of the president’s sons, was at the site around 10 p.m. He reportedly greeted the protesters and boarded one of the trucks.

Bolsonaro’s supporters are in the capital for protests calling for Brazil’s Independence Day, which this Tuesday celebrates its 199th anniversary. According to the local press, the hotel business in the city is almost at full capacity. Several convoys of protesters are moving into the city, with people from at least ten states expected.

São Paulo should also be one of the main stages of the demonstrations this Tuesday. Expect the largest gathering of people on Avenida Paulista. There are also opposition protests that have been called in various locations to avoid direct confrontations.

The protests were encouraged by the president himself and occurred at a time of tension between Bolsonaro, the STF and Congress, which the former president accuses of acting as an opposition. Bolsonaro will be at protests in Brasilia in the morning and in Sao Paulo in the afternoon.

Although Bolsonaro has secured it Brazil lives in peace and there is no need to fear the demonstrations called by the extreme rightAnticipated moments of tension. On social networks, Pocketnaristas protesters have been urging an “invasion” of Parliament and the Supreme Court, making threats and even suggesting the assassination of judges.

According to the international press, there is a strong police force ready to intervene. There are five thousand police officers in Congress alone.

This Monday, The Guardian issued an open letter signed by several former world leaders who… He warned that Bolsonaro might be preparing a military coup. There are concerns that Pocketnarist supporters will try to repeat the Trump supporters’ attack on the US Capitol in January.