RIO DE JANEIRO, BRASIL - On Friday, the Trump administration closed its embassy in Brasil and all of its consulates in a move that many saw as a scare tactic designed to interfere once again in the Brazilian presidential election.
“It is yet another step in the United States' attempt to intervene in our democracy,” Brazilian Congresswoman Talíria Petrone told me on Friday. On the same day, a report came out that the Brazilian federal police and intelligence service ABIN were warning of a possible US coup attempt.
Despite the threats from the Trump Administration, over 50,000 Brazilians took to the streets of downtown Rio de Janeiro to greet Lula when he came to town ahead of the first round of Brasil’s presidential election this Sunday. Polling shows the race is tight and likely headed to a runoff later in the month, inspiring many activists to take to the streets and fight.
Lula's rally felt more like Carnaval. People danced and drank in the streets. Marching bands, known as “blocos,” led by various political groups, played as activists dancing on stilts got the crowd joining the party. I even saw some people making out. Love was in the air for Lula!
“Latin America has countries governed by the far right, Trump is interfering in the region,” Congresswoman Petrone told Payday Report. “So, joy is also part of the path to victory—to democratic victory.”
Some Brazilian activists complained that left-wing activists in the United States aren’t paying attention and getting out into the street to protest Trump’s interference in their elections.
“Unfortunately, the American people haven't taken to the streets yet; if they do, they will stop Trump,” a retired biology teacher told Payday Report.
Take three minutes to watch for yourself and get a sense of the energy of Brazilian dancing, singing, and fighting back against Trump. Then, give us a few bucks so we can tell the story that most U.S. outlets are ignoring.
While most U.S. media outlets (including many on the left) are ignoring the Brazilian presidential election, Payday Report is on the ground covering it while the US right wing media is providing great assistance to Bolsonaro.
Elon Musk’s X blocked the account of the Brazilian Conference of Catholic Bishops,which has been critical of Bolsonaro. Trump is training right wing influencers to help Bolsonaro, but the American left has been MIA. I couldn’t even find a place to freelance a story, all my funding is crowdfunding from regular working folks.
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