Published by: Patrick Lance O. Guerra
Date Published: September 30, 2025
Time Published: 7:49 AM
Tens of thousands of people marched in São Paulo and other major cities across Brazil on Sunday, September 22, to protest a proposed amnesty bill that could clear former President Jair Bolsonaro, his allies, and supporters linked to the January 2023 riots in Brasília.
The protests started after the lower house of Congress passed the “Shielding Project,” which would make it harder to charge lawmakers with crimes and also move forward an amnesty plan that many say is meant to protect Bolsonaro from his 27-year prison sentence for trying to overturn the 2022 election.
Large crowds filled major cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, and Salvador, making it one of the biggest left-wing protests in recent years as unions, students, artists, and citizens came together to say no to the amnesty.
In Rio, singers Caetano Veloso, Chico Buarque, and Gilberto Gil performed to show their support for democracy, while pop star Anitta posted online that Brazilians should not allow politicians to erase crimes.
“Brazil belongs to Brazilians, not to corrupt politicians, and I came here to defend democracy, stand against extremism, and say no to immunity and amnesty for coup plotters,” said Scarlett Angelotti, a 62-year-old teacher in São Paulo.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva praised the protests and said the people do not want impunity or amnesty, calling on Congress to focus on laws that will truly help the nation.
Bolsonaro, who is under house arrest while appealing his case, denied doing anything wrong and said the amnesty is needed for “national reconciliation,” but a Datafolha poll showed that half of Brazilians want him in prison while 43 percent disagree.
The Senate will now decide on the bill in the coming weeks, and protesters promised to keep rallying, warning that Brazil’s democracy is in danger if lawmakers choose amnesty over justice.
REFERENCES:
[1] Associated Press. (2025, September 21). Brazilians protest bill that could lead to pardon for Bolsonaro and allies. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/21/americas/brazil-protest-bill-pardon-bolsonaro-intl-latam
[2] Phillips, T. (2025, September 21). Brazilians protest in their thousands against granting Bolsonaro amnesty. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/21/brazil-protest-against-jair-bolsonaro-amnesty
[3] Teles, I., Caram, B., & Gaier, R. V. (2025, September 22). Brazilians protest efforts to shield Bolsonaro and lawmakers from courts. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazilians-protest-efforts-shield-bolsonaro-lawmakers-courts-2025-09-21/
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