Tens of thousands of Brazilians flooded the streets on September 7, 2025, during Independence Day, holding rival rallies for and against former President Jair Bolsonaro as his trial for allegedly plotting a coup after his 2022 election defeat nears a verdict.
The Supreme Court is set to rule by Friday, with Bolsonaro facing up to 43 years in prison if convicted.
The protests in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Brasília highlighted Brazil’s deep political divide, with Bolsonaro supporters waving Brazilian and U.S. flags, signaling alignment with President Donald Trump, who has labeled the trial a “witch-hunt” and imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian goods and sanctions on justices.
In São Paulo, a University of São Paulo research group estimated 40,000 Bolsonaro supporters rallied, denouncing Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes as a dictator.
Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the ex-president’s son, spoke at Copacabana Beach, wearing a “Bolsonaro 2026” shirt despite his father’s ban from running until 2030.
Supporters like Sheila Santos, a retired police officer in Brasília, called the expected conviction unfair and pinned hopes on amnesty, with protests blending festive vibes — vendors sold food and merchandise — with defiance, including U.S. flag displays and Trump imagery.
In Brasília and São Paulo, counter-protesters demanded Bolsonaro’s conviction, with Rio’s Ana Baldas rejecting Trump’s interference and amnesty proposals.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, leading the Independence Day parade themed “Sovereign Brazil,” declared, “We are not and will never again become a colony of anyone,” opposing foreign influence.
The amnesty debate, supported by São Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas, has stirred controversy, with critics like Lula warning it threatens justice for the January 8, 2023, riots resembling the U.S. Capitol attack.