Bulletin 164 – People’s Committee in Defense of Lula and Democracy
Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil – 8/01/2018
- This afternoon, August 1st, the six social movement activists who have been on hunger strike for two days in demand of freedom for ex-President Lula received the support and solidarity from PT Congressional leader Paulo Pimenta (Rio Grande do Sul), Opposition leader José Guimarães (PT-Ceará), Congresswoman Luizianne Lins (PT-Ceará) and Congressman Paulo Teixeira (PT -São Paulo). The strikers reaffirmed their willingness to continue the protest indefinitely, to guarantee that Brazil has a democratic and sovereign electoral process with the participation of Lula. Read more here: http://Bulletin 164 – People’s Committee in Defense of Lula and Democracy
- Paulo Pimenta said that every activist who took the extreme decision to protest against injustice represents a Supreme Court Justice, “who, in their actions, violated the Federal Constitution.” This type of protest, as the Congressmen reminded us, was frequently used by Gandhi during the Indian independence struggle, when he directly blamed British authorities for the hunger strike. The routine of the hunger strikers will be to spend some time in front of the Supreme Court every day and afterwords go to a nearby location to rest.
- During the “good afternoon” yell to ex-President Lula on this 117th day of democratic resistance in Curitiba, activists emphasized the sacrifice of the comrades on hunger strike in Brasilia. Adriana Prestes, from the MST directorship, highlighted the importance of extreme protest to show the world the great injustice that is being committed against Lula and also against the Brazilian people, who are facing the return of hunger and policies adopted by the current, illegitimate government.
- The Free Lula Festival, held last Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, entered the history of the struggle for democracy in Brazil by uniting intellectuals, artists and national and international leaders. With the presence of over 60,000 people and despite being practically ignored by the Brazilian commercial media, it successfully denounced Lula’s arbitrary imprisonment and the threats to democracy in the country. Watch footage from the festival here:http://www.pt.org.br/festival-lula-livre-confira-o-clipe-inedito-desse-dia-inesquecivel/
- On Thursday, August 2, the musicians Chico Buarque and Martinho da Vila will visit ex-President Luiz Inácio da Silva. Both have been defending freedom for Lula since he was arrested without proof on April 7th. The composer Chico Buarque is a historic comrade of Lula’s and was also one of the main attractions at the Free Lula Festival. Held in solitary confinement in the Federal Police headquarters in Curitiba, Lula is allowed to receive visits from two friends on Thursdays.
- With the slogan, “we are all Lula,” the São Paulo Municipal PT Directorate and the social movements will hold a demonstration this Friday, August 3rd, starting at 5PM on Sé square. “Brazil and São Paulo are not going to stop protesting and challenging the arbitrary, political imprisonment of Lula, says Paulo Fiorilo, São Paulo Municipal PT President. Read more here:http://www.pt.org.br/sao-paulo-recebera-ato-somos-todos-lula-nesta-sexta-feira-3/
Bulletin 164 – People’s Committee in Defense of Lula and Democracy
Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil – 8/01/2018
