Brazil: Thousands of students march against Bolsonaro

On Wednesday, thousands of students gathered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to march against the possibility of Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, potentially becoming the country's next president. The far-right candidate secured around two million more votes than incumbent President Lula da Silva in the first round of the election.

However, neither candidate secured the necessary 50% vote share to win outright, leading to a run-off election scheduled for October 25, where Bolsonaro is seen as the favorite.

Joao Victor Vieira, a 20-year-old literature student, expressed fear that a Bolsonaro presidency would turn Brazil into a "colony of the United States." Other marchers carried signs with messages like "Brazil isn't anyone's backyard," "I don't vote for someone who sells Brazil," and "Never again Bolsonaro." They marched to the rhythm of drums, fireworks, and chants, determined to "fight for Brazil, not for Lula."

Talita Amaral, a 19-year-old environmental sciences student, wore Brazil's iconic yellow and green football shirt, a symbol often associated with Bolsonaro supporters, in an attempt to reclaim it for left-wing activists. She emphasized the urgency of their cause, stating, "We don't have time to be sad, we need to be doing this, occupying the streets, sending messages in WhatsApp groups, trying to convince people."

For Alice Carneiro, a 25-year-old maritime shipping administrator, the thought of another Bolsonaro presidency evoked fears of discriminatory far-right policies affecting Brazil's minorities, including her transgender wife. She told AFP news agency, "I'm here because I believe in democracy, because I'm scared."

The march demonstrated a significantly larger turnout compared to Lula's rally on the same street on Friday, which marked the peak of his campaign. With right-wing candidates winning over eight million votes combined, Lula and the left face an uphill battle in the run-off. The incumbent's campaign strategy has shifted towards social media, where the far-right holds sway, but Lula has largely been absent, opting to focus on essential messages.

However, on Wednesday, Lula convened leftist influencers who won legislative seats on Sunday to bolster his campaign efforts.