Bulletin 210 – People’s Committee in Defense of Lula and Democracy
Curitiba – 9/16/2018 – 8.15 PM
1. With thousands of attendees, the São Paulo edition of the Lula Livre Festival took place today. Several artists performed protest songs against the threats to democracy in Brazil and the arbitrary arrest of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Hundreds of people carried “Free Lula” placards and Lula masks, while denouncing the former president’s political imprisonment and demanding his release. Between shows, the audience shouted “Free Lula!”, “Lula warrior of the Brazilian people!” and “Olê, olê, olá, Lula, Lula”. Read more:
http://www.pt.org.br/festival-lula-livre-em-sao-paulo-um-grito-por-justica/
2. US Senator Bernie Sanders, one of the most prominent members of the Democratic Party, has called for an alliance of the left against the new authoritarianism that has been gaining strength in many countries. Sanders was one of 30 US congressmen who signed a petition for Lula’s release and has already expressed “deep concern” about the coup in Brazil. Former Greek economics minister Yanis Varoufakis went further and suggested the creation of a Progressive International in defense of prosperity and democracy. Read more:
http://www.pt.org.br/bernie-sanders-defende-alianca-internacional-progressista/
3. Former President Lula distributed a letter to the Brazilian people today, via social media, highlighting the importance of Brazil returning to the path of economic and social development that began with his government in 2003 and was interrupted by the 2016 coup. “There are 3 weeks left till the election, and we have a great mission ahead of us. It is time to defend our plan for government, to go from door to door, remembering the Brazil that we built together,” he wrote.
4. This Sunday, Douglas Duarte’s film “Excelentíssimos” was shown at the 51st Brasília Festival of Brazilian Cinema. The film tells the story of the impeachment process of President Dilma Rousseff, who was elected with more than 54 million votes, by showing what went on behind the scenes in the Brazilian Parliament. Throughout the film the audience shouted “Free Lula” and booed the coup-mongers who appeared on the screen.
5. Today is the 163rd day resistance at the Free Lula Vigil in Curitiba. In addition to the greetings to former president Lula in the morning, afternoon and evening, there was also an ecumenical service and a reception for newly-arrived activists. The ecumenical service was marked by calls for unity, courage and fraternity. “We have not given up for 163 days but have resisted. The poor have been forgotten in some way, but not by us and not by Lula. We are here to declare, with affection, that we will not forget one another,” said Pastor Israel.
Bulletin 210 – People’s Committee in Defense of Lula and Democracy
Curitiba – 9/16/2018 – 8.15 PM
