Brazilian students in Rio de Janeiro march against the prospect of another Bolsonaro presidency

In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, hundreds of demonstrators gathered for a student-led protest on Wednesday, voicing concerns about the potential return of far-right candidate Flavio Bolsonaro to the presidency. Wearing stickers that read "Never Again Bolsonaro" and "No to the Father, No to the Son," participants of all ages united to express their fears and opposition to the surge of the far-right in Brazil.

The protest came after Flavio Bolsonaro secured the first position in Sunday's election, with the veteran leftist incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva coming in second. The two will face off in a run-off election on October 25.

One protestor, Alice Carneiro, 25, a maritime shipping administrator, voiced her concerns, stating, "I'm here because I believe in democracy. Because I'm scared." She expressed apprehension about potential backlash against her trans wife if Bolsonaro were to return to power.

Recalling the hardships faced during Jair Bolsonaro's presidency from 2019 to 2022, Carneiro highlighted his handling of the pandemic, which resulted in over 700,000 deaths in Brazil, the second-highest death toll in the world. She remembered the denial of vaccines during that time.

Amidst drums, fireworks, and massive flags reading "Get Out Bolsonaro," protesters also expressed worry about Flavio Bolsonaro's proposed amnesty for his father, who is currently serving a 27-year sentence for attempting a coup following his father's 2022 election defeat. One protester, Emmanuel Araujo, 19, preparing for university entrance exams, lamented, "I find this rise of the far-right and the rise of Bolsonarism in Brazil very, very sad."

Araujo emphasized, "Most people voting for Bolsonaro aren't doing so because they believe in his proposals. It's anti-PT, anti-Lula politics, driven by hatred and resentment toward previous administrations. Lula might not be my preferred candidate, but amid this barbarism, we have to choose between someone we can keep criticizing and someone who might take away our right to speak."