The 2020 Brazilian protests and demonstrations were popular demonstrations that took place in several regions of Brazil, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. The protests began on March 15, 2020, with demonstrations in support of President Jair Bolsonaro, the target of several investigations, and against the isolation measures imposed by state governments.
Background
Demonstrations in support of the Jair Bolsonaro government had already been scheduled for March 15, 2020, as a way of supporting the President of the Republic, who had already been the target of investigations on several cases. The president, members of his government and supporters are the target of several investigations and processes in several institutions, including the main ones: the Queiroz Case, which directly involves Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the president's son; the so-called "Fake News Inquiry", opened by the Supreme Federal Court itself to investigate threats and attacks on members of the Supreme Court; the Moro Case, an investigation initiated after the resignation of former minister Sérgio Moro, who accused Bolsonaro of political interference in the Federal Police with a view to accessing classified information; the Fake News CPMI that runs in the National Congress and the Bolsonaro-Mourão ticket forfeiture proceedings at the Superior Electoral Court (TSE).
However, the demonstrations came under criticism for containing anti-democratic guidelines and also for occurring amid the pandemic of COVID-19 that was in its initial phase in Brazil after the confirmation of the first case on February 26, 2020. Despite the accusations, the Secretariat of Communication said that the protests are "in favor of Brazil" and that it does not intend to attack the congress or the judiciary, in reference to two of the three powers.
Pro-Bolsonaro Protests
15 March
On March 15, 2020, the first demonstration in defense of President Jair Bolsonaro takes place in at least 224 Brazilian cities and the Federal District. Despite requests for postponement by the president due to the spread of the New Coronavirus, the protests usually took place with the defense of the president and harsh criticisms of the STF and the National Congress for the accusations involving the President of the Republic, in addition to requests for the departure of Rodrigo Maia (DEM-RJ) of the presidency of the Chamber of Deputies and criticism against the left. The event in Brasília was attended by 3,000 people.
Anti-isolation riders
During the months of March and April, protesters held caravans in some Brazilian cities and the Federal District against local isolation policies, which involved the temporary closure of trade. The action was attended by businessmen who carried Brazilian flags, in addition to the participation of a sound car. In São Paulo, in addition to requests to reopen trade, there were also requests for "Military Intervention" and harsh criticisms of Governor João Doria. The acts also earned the nickname "pro-corona protests".
19 April
On April 19, 2020, another wave of demonstrations favorable to President Jair Bolsonaro takes place. In Brasília, there was communication with protesters again in tones of threat, however, Bolsonaro had a coughing crisis in the middle of his speech. The scene reverberated on social networks.
3 May
In this act, the protesters again issued slogans against the STF and Rodrigo Maia in Brasília, and there was also a motorcade against the Horizontal Isolation, in addition to requests for Military Intervention. There were also attacks on journalists from the newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo.
17 May
Keeping the same agendas of previous demonstrations, with the main one being the reopening of trade during the COVID-19 Pandemic, the protesters occupy two lanes of the Monumental Axis between the Plano Piloto Highway and the Cathedral of Brasília. There were also gatherings at the National Stadium of Brasília Mané Garrincha and in front of the TV Globo Brasília headquarters.
24 May
After the video of the Ministerial Meeting on April 22 on May 22 was released, the president walked on the track between Praça dos Três Poderes and Palácio do Planalto, where he waved and interacted with supporters. Protesters with Brazilian flags passed by car and on foot in front of the Esplanada dos Ministérios, guided by a sound car. On the same day, journalists from Rede Globo, Folha de S. Paulo newspaper and a journalist from BandNews TV suffered attacks from protesters, causing the vehicles to no longer cover the protests.