Thousands of people march in Brazil to demand the prosecution of the coup plotters

By Mithil Aggarwal -

Thousands of protesters have marched through the streets of Brazil demanding the prosecution of coup plotters who stormed government buildings in support of far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro.

Calling for those responsible to be brought to justice, crowds shouting “No to amnesty!”

they marched late on Monday in a rowdy show of support for the country's democracy, which came under attack on Sunday.

[Biden is pressured to expel Bolsonaro from the US after the coup attack in Brazil]

The demonstrations came at a time when Bolsonaro's status is facing increasing scrutiny, with US President Joe Biden calling for his expulsion from the country.

Bolsonaro announced late Monday that he had been admitted to a hospital in Florida, posting a photo on Twitter from his hospital bed.

In an interview with CNN Brazil, Bolsonaro said that he "is fine" and that he expected to be released in the next few days after being hospitalized with "abdominal pain."

He suggested that he might return to Brazil earlier than planned.

“I came (to the United States) to stay until the end of the month (January), but I intend to return earlier,” he announced, adding that doctors in Brazil were familiar with treating pain linked to his 2018 stabbing injury. .

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in his hospital bed in Kissimmee, Florida, on Monday.AFP - Getty Images

Bolsonaro flew to the United States two days before his term was due to expire on January 1, skipping the inauguration of his leftist rival Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. 

Lula has sworn to prosecute those implicated in the assault on Brazil's Congress, Supreme Court and presidential palace and has directly accused Bolsonaro of encouraging the attacks, which had unmistakable echoes of events at the US Capitol two years ago.

["It's not a surprise to anyone."

Why is the coup assault in Brazil similar to that of the United States Capitol?]

Brazilian police announced Monday that they had detained some 1,500 people in connection with the insurrection, some of whom were arrested in a crackdown on pro-Bolsonaro protest encampments in the capital Brasilia.

But large crowds nonetheless tried to keep up the pressure for those involved to face retaliation.

On Monday afternoon, protesters chanted “No to amnesty!”

at the University of São Paulo Law School, demanding that the instigators of the riots be brought to justice, according to The Associated Press news agency.

It soon became the rallying cry of thousands of people in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, visible on posters and banners.

Biden condemns the "assault on democracy" in Brazil and offers his support to Lula

Jan 9, 202300:29

“These people need to be punished, the people who ordered it need to be punished, the ones who gave money for it need to be punished,” said Bety Amin, a 61-year-old therapist with the word “DEMOCRACY” smeared across the back of her shirt, to the news agency on the main boulevard of Sao Paulo.

“They do not represent Brazil.

We represent Brazil,” she stated.

[Lula da Silva describes the destruction caused by the demonstrations in Brazil as “abominable”]

Many have drawn parallels between Sunday's attack and the January 6, 2021 attack on the United States Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump.

Some are also focusing on the long relationship between Bolsonaro, his family and Trump, as well as some of his former strategists.

Biden, who is facing mounting pressure from several Democratic lawmakers to expel Bolsonaro from the country, spoke to Lula in a phone call on Monday.

He affirmed Lula's victory and expressed his "unwavering support" for Brazil's democracy, according to a joint statement released by the White House on Monday night.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters earlier in the day that the United States had not received any official request from the Brazilian government regarding the removal of Bolsonaro, who is believed to have flown to Florida days before to finish his term.

Asked whether Bolsonaro entered the US on an A-1 visa - intended for foreign diplomats or heads of state - State Department spokesman Ned Price declined to comment Monday on Bolsonaro's specific status, but He said that this type of visa expires if the person who uses it has a change of position.

The person would have to apply for a change of status or leave the country.