The Committee in Solidarity with the Palestinian People in the ABC Region of Brazil joined the “Action for Democracy” mass march and rally on 18 March, against right-wing official and journalistic attempts to unseat the Brazilian government, carrying Palestinian flags and demands for support of the Palestinian cause, boycott of Israel and freedom for Palestinian political prisoners.
Following an escalating scandal over government corruption, right-wing officials and private media channels (in particular Globo and Globovision, known for their support for Brazil’s coup and military dictatorship from 1964-1985) have been actively involved in demanding the impeachment of Brazil’s president, Dilma Rousseff, and preventing the re-entry to government of former president Lula Ignacio Da Silva, both of the Workers’ Party (PT).
The PT government has also faced protests by social movements, including Palestine solidarity organizations, for continuing to do business, including military and security deals, with the Israeli state; initiating austerity plans, passing so-called ‘anti-terror’ legislation, and pushing for the 2016 Rio Olympics to the detriment of the poor and working class of Brazil.
The current protests and impeachment demands are, however, unlike these movements, led by right-wing political parties; the character of the protests against the government has been described as “white, wealthy and conservative” and pushing for a new coup like that of the military junta.
Over a million people joined the protests on 18 March under slogans of opposing a new coup and defending democracy, organized by 60 groups including large labor unions and the Landless Workers’ Movement (MST).
The Committee in Solidarity with the Palestinian People marched with flags and signs, calling for “support for the resistance of the Palestinian people, freedom for Ahmad Sa’adat, Khalida Jarrar and over 6,000 Palestinian political prisoners, and the right of return of all Palestinian refugees to Palestine.”
