RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) 鈥 Thousands of backers of Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro poured onto Copacabana Beach on Sunday to express their support for the far-right politician as he faces charges he plotted a coup.
Bolsonaro and close allies attended the demonstration in which protesters also called for Congress to grant amnesty to those in jail for their roles in the Jan. 8, 2023 riot, when government buildings in the capital Brasilia were ransacked.
A sea of people wearing Brazil鈥檚 yellow-and-green national soccer jersey chanted and held placards reading 鈥淎mnesty, now!鈥 Local media reported that around 18,000 people attended, based on figures from a monitoring project linked to the University of Sao Paulo. Bolsonaro's allies had hoped to draw a crowd of 1 million.
for rallies called by Bolsonaro at times when he has sought to demonstrate his political strength.
Last month, 鈥檚 prosecutor-general to stay in office after to current President Luiz In谩cio Lula da Silva. Part of that plot allegedly included plans to poison Lula and shoot dead Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversees several cases against him.
After losing to Lula, Bolsonaro refused to concede, and days before the end of his term.
Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing and has said he is a victim of political persecution. His defense is seeking to send the case to the full Supreme Court, where Bolsonaro appointed two of its 11 justices.
If convicted, the former president could be sentenced to decades behind bars.
Speaking at the demonstration, Bolsonaro again refuted the accusations.
鈥淣obody buys that story. The only reason this coup story wasn鈥檛 perfect for them was because I was in the United States. If I鈥檇 been here, I鈥檇 still be in prison, or maybe killed by them. I鈥檓 going to be a problem for them, in prison or dead,鈥 he said.
The pro-Bolsonaro demonstration took place nine days before a will gather in Brasilia to decide whether the former president and several of his allies will stand trial on five counts.
Ahead of the march, his son Sen. Fl谩vio Bolsonaro sought to rally the troops. 鈥淭he hundreds of political prisoners and persecuted people need all of us more than ever,鈥 he said in a video posted on social media on March 9.
That was a reference to the more than 400 people convicted for their roles , when Bolsonaro鈥檚 die-hard fans stormed and trashed the Supreme Court, Presidential Palace and Congress a week after Lula took office.
In his indictment of Bolsonaro and 33 others linked to him, Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet said the rampage was a last-ditch attempt to hold onto power.
Paulo Henrique Cassimiro, a political scientist at Rio de Janeiro State University, said Bolsonaro was trying to portray himself and those in jail as innocent patriots before the Supreme Court decides whether to accept the charges.
鈥淚f he strengthens himself politically, (Brazil's Congress) could potentially grant him amnesty in the event of a conviction,鈥 Cassimiro said. But the low turnout at the rally shows that his clout has diminished, he added.
Thiago Bottino, a law professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, said it was likely the charges would be accepted.
鈥淲hat you need to start a trial is different from what you need to convict someone. There are enough elements,鈥 Bottino said, citing seized documents, statements from witnesses and large quantities of messages exchanged.
Cassiane Sousa, a 25-year-old student, said she attended the protest to show that Bolsonaro's movement still has strength despite his legal troubles.
鈥淲e鈥檙e here because we still have hope, otherwise we鈥檇 just stay home,鈥 she said.
