In Sao Paulo and Rio, thousands protest against the blocking of X after Bolsonaro’s call

AFP and Sputnik Sao Paulo

The newspaper La Jornada
Sunday, September 8, 2024, p. 21

Thousands of people dressed in the green and yellow of the national flag responded yesterday in Sao Paulo to the call of the far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro to defend freedom of expressionfollowing the blocking of social network X decided by the Brazilian justice system.

The demonstration was attended by Bolsonaro, one of his sons, deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro, and the state governor, Tarcisio de Freitas, among other far-right politicians.

Jair Bolsonaro did not speak, but his son, wearing a T-shirt with the X logo on the Brazilian flag, lashed out at the Supreme Court judge: I wonder why Alexandre de Moraes is going to such great lengths to end freedom of expression in this country. Is it because X is a powerful tool to expose all the abuses, excesses and illegalities that Alexandre has committed?he asked from atop the stage truck where he gave his speech.

In Rio de Janeiro, hundreds of supporters of the former president gathered on Copacabana beach armed with Brazilian flags and signs calling for the impeachment de Moraes. Following the decision to block the social network on August 30, the X social network gradually became unavailable in Brazil starting on Saturday, August 31.