Bolsonaro Amnesty Rally Closes One Side of Paulista Avenue

A group of right-wing sympathizers gathered this afternoon in front of the Gazeta building on Paulista Avenue in São Paulo, demanding the release of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Protesters congregated on the building’s steps, starting to gather around noon, with new participants joining throughout the early afternoon, eventually closing one side of the street. The GCM (Metropolitan Civil Guard) and the Military Police monitored the movement, while the CET (Traffic Engineering Company) coordinated the traffic. About 600 meters away, at the MASP (Sao Paulo Museum of Art), a protest against femicide also closed both sides of the avenue. Religious leaders were present, including pastors, former presidential candidate Father Kelmon, and other Catholic leaders holding a flag that read ‘we are a Christian nation.’ Religious songs played as protesters raised signs calling for ‘broad amnesty’ and declaring ‘Bolsonaro is innocent.’ The group set out on a walk around 3 p.m. Despite closing one side of the avenue, movement amongst the protesters was calm. The march turned onto Brigadeiro Luís Antônio Avenue, towards downtown, heading to Praça da Sé, where the rally was set to conclude. A right-wing trumpeter was one of the attractions at the rally, with Jorge, aged over 60, playing the trumpet. According to him, the main demand of the day was for ‘Bolsonaro to be released from captivity’ and for ‘things to improve.’ Protesters also shouted against STF Minister Alexandre de Moraes and carried a poster depicting him as the devil. Alongside, others waved flags of Brazil and the USA. The rally was organized by Father Kelmon and the vice-mayor of Sao Paulo. Colonel Mello Araújo joined the call on social media, along with other supporters like Senators Marcos Pontes and Marcos do Val.