Thousands of students march in Rio against Flavio Bolsonaro
Students in downtown Rio protested Flavio Bolsonaro after he outpolled incumbent Lula in the first election round.
Thousands of Brazilian students marched through central Rio de Janeiro to protest the prospect of Flavio Bolsonaro becoming president after he received more votes than incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the first round of the presidential election.
Most demonstrators, dressed predominantly in red, moved between two historic squares in downtown Rio, chanting slogans and carrying banners calling for the protection of Brazil's sovereignty and democracy.
Students say they are defending education and democratic institutions
“We are here mainly to defend education and democracy, because we are witnessing a global rise of the extreme right including here in Brazil as well as interference from the United States. We are fighting for our rights — I, as a philosophy student, must continue to fight for a president who defends our academic research,” a demonstrator said.
Protesters also declared support for Lula, arguing that a government led by Flavio Bolsonaro would not represent them. “We are on the streets to protest in support of Lula, because we believe that the government of Flavio Bolsonaro does not represent us. During the previous government of Jair Messias Bolsonaro, he tried to cut the budget of federal universities,” another demonstrator said.
The demonstration comes amid heightened political polarization in Brazil, with students framing their action as a defence of democratic institutions and public education rather than a purely partisan rally.
Photo: press material from the event
