Cry of the Excluded calls for Bolsonaro’s arrest and demands Lula – 09/07/2023 – Power

Social movements and left-wing parties took to the country’s streets for the Cry of the Excluded, held on September 7th to denounce ills and demand rights. In São Paulo, protesters called for the arrest of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) and criticized governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans).

At the gathering on Avenida Paulista, participants carried posters with a montage of Bolsonaro behind bars and used their speeches to defend punishment for the former president, now ineligible, citing corruption in the case of the jewelry scandal and the coup conspiracy threatening the elections.

President Lula (PT) was also mentioned in speeches in Praça da Sé, with demands to meet the demands of the progressive camp and fulfill campaign promises. At the scene, representatives of trade unions also attacked Tarcísio for his privatization policy.

The 29th Cry of the Excluded —which began in 1995 at the initiative of wings of the Catholic Church and popular movements— had events planned in 26 states, according to the organization. The official theme of the 29th edition is “Life comes first”, with the motto “What are you hungry and thirsty for?”.

Racism, police lethality, unemployment, social inequality, increase in the homeless population, violence against women and the LGBTQIA+ population and slowness in housing and agrarian reform programs were other problems highlighted in the more than 80 mobilizations scheduled across Brazil.

The agenda for Bolsonaro’s arrest was encouraged by the CMP (Central de Movimentos Populares), one of the entities that led the acts, and incorporated by other groups on the streets. The CMP called for a gathering on Avenida Paulista, with a walk to the Ibirapuera Park region.

The group went on a walk holding party and movement flags, playing instruments and chanting war cries linked to the themes of the protest. Representatives of the World March of Women sang in chorus a rhyme that ended with the appeal for “Bolsonaro in jail”.

Representatives of MST (Movement of Landless Rural Workers), MTST (Movement of Homeless Workers), CUT (Central Única dos Trabalhadores), UNE (National Union of Students) and FLM (Front of Struggle for Housing), among other organizations, participated in the activities.

In Praça da Sé, a place with a high concentration of homeless people, breakfast was offered to homeless people. In their speeches, activists repudiated Tarcísio’s actions such as the Sabesp privatization plan and the concession of train and subway services to the private sector.

The governor was associated with Bolsonaro, his political godfather. Members of parties such as PT, PSOL, PCB and UP spoke out against Tarcísio, speaking in the fight against neoliberalism and fascism and identifying Bolsonarism as a risk to democracy and the democratic rule of law.

Lula was also the target of messages that his government is falling short of expectations in advancing leftist agendas and making excessive concessions to opposition forces.

A banner posted on the sound truck showed contradiction with the fiscal framework approved by the PT government, and with the thesis of the time frame for indigenous lands, which puts ownership at risk. There were calls for the repeal of the labor reform and calls for a drop in interest rates.

Shouts of “jail for Bolsonaro” and “no amnesty” were heard in the square.

The event at the Cathedral also included declarations of solidarity with Father Julio Lancellotti, who leads work to help the homeless population and is constantly the target of threats — in the most recent one, a few days ago, he received a note calling him a defender of criminals and saying that his days of reign will end.