Bulletin 145 – People’s Committee in Defense of Lula and Democracy
Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil – 7/13/2018 – 10:10 PM
- In a never before seen video released in the social media today, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks about how he performed as President of Brazil for 8 years. In one of the scenes he says, “My priority was always to do things in a way that the poorest people did not see me as a president but as one of them, performing the job.” The video was recorded in the ABC Metallurgical Workers Union headquarters in São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, a few days before he was arbitrarily imprisoned and taken to Curitiba, Paraná. Other videos which will be released in the next few days that will show his ideas about Brazil, since judge Carolina Lebbos is illegally barring him from participating in electoral events or even conducting interviews. Watch the video here: https://www.facebook.com/Lula/videos/1795103407225318/
- This afternoon a series of acts were held all over the country in defense of Lula and his right to run for the office of President of the Republic. Organized by PT and different labor unions and social movements, the acts were also held to denounce the judicial persecution against Lula, who is detained as a political prisoner in Curitiba based on an arbitrary ruling by judge Sergio Moro. The demonstrations, called “National Day of Lula – Free Lula”, mark the beginning of a protest schedule which will continue until August 15th , when Lula will be registered as candidate for the Presidency, in Brasilia, with thousands of people on the streets of the capital.
- This afternoon the area in front of the Fourth Regional Federal Court (TRF-4) in Porto Alegre became the stage for a demonstration for freedom for Lula. As part of national struggle events that took place today, Congressmen and Congresswomen Henrique Fontana (PT-Rio Grande do Sul), Maria do Rosario (PT-Rio Grande do Sul) and Pepe Vargas (PT-Rio Grande do Sul) along with CUT labor union federation national President Wagner Freitas took part in the demonstration. They all demanded that the Federal Supreme Court take a position on the counter orders of Judge Sergio Moro, who, in the middle of his vacation, with no jurisdiction over the case, maneuvered to block a release order that guaranteed freedom for Lula.
- In Curitiba, the #LulaLivre Vigil had a Friday full of activities. Immediately following the “good morning yell” to the ex-President, Raimundo Domingos, union leader from the ABC Metallurgical Workers Union led a public discussion about popular organizing for political struggle. After lunch journalists from the Midia Ninja collective held a debate called, “Communication, struggle and photography”. At 4 PM, Joice Aragão, a pediatrician and hygiene specialist led a debate called, “Health of the Black Population during the Lula and Dilma governments.”
- While the persecution against Lula in Brazil by sectors of the judiciary and public prosecutors office becomes clearer and clearer, the protests in solidarity and in support for freedom for the ex-President are growing around the world. In Venezuela, the National Constituent Assembly manifested in favor of the immediate release of Lula. Today in Portugal, there was an act in defense of Lula and his release, while in London, during a gigantic protest against US President Donald Trump’s visit, many protesters held signs and banners with the phrase #FreeLula.”
Bulletin 145 – People’s Committee in Defense of Lula and Democracy
Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil – 7/13/2018 – 10:10 PM
