On Brazil’s Independence Day, São Paulo became the stage for a large demonstration by supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro. The rally, which saw thousands of people taking to Avenida Paulista, was fueled by outrage over the recent nationwide ban of Elon Musk’s social media platform X. This event highlighted Bolsonaro’s ongoing influence, despite his political ban until 2030, and reflected the country’s escalating political divide.
Waving flags in Brazil’s yellow and green, Bolsonaro’s supporters gathered in São Paulo, many carrying signs that criticized the ban on X. Banners praising Musk for defending free speech were prominent, including one that read, “Thank you for defending our freedom.” The rally was seen as a test of Bolsonaro’s ability to mobilize his base ahead of October’s municipal elections. Despite a court ruling barring him from running for office until 2030, Bolsonaro remains a powerful figure, and the protest served as an informal referendum on the suspension of X.
The X Ban Controversy
The ban on X, enacted by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes on August 30, was the result of mounting tensions between Moraes and Musk. The conflict centered around the spread of misinformation by far-right users on the platform. Moraes has been a key figure in Brazil’s efforts to curb false information, especially following the January 8, 2023, attacks on Congress and the presidential palace by Bolsonaro supporters attempting to overturn his electoral defeat.
During the rally, Bolsonaro criticized Moraes as a “dictator” and urged the Senate to impeach him. He also reiterated unfounded claims that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had conspired with the judiciary to steal the 2022 election. Bolsonaro’s remarks were met with cheers from his supporters, who view the judiciary’s actions as a form of political suppression.
Support for Musk and Free Speech
Bolsonaro’s condemnation of Moraes was echoed by his supporters, who have rallied around Musk as a defender of free speech. Lawmaker Bia Kicis praised Musk’s resistance to the Supreme Court’s order, claiming, “Elon Musk has been a warrior for freedom of speech. The right is being oppressed because the left doesn’t want us to exist.”
Many rally participants, like retiree Amaro Santos, expressed fears that their freedoms are under threat. “Our liberties are in danger,” Santos said. “Only through mass protests can we convince politicians to act.”
Musk has supported the rally, urging Brazilians to participate and sharing messages that framed the X ban as a warning about the fragility of freedom. He even created an account named after Moraes to publish court orders directing X to remove certain accounts.
Judicial Actions and Criticisms
The decision to block X was backed by Brazil’s Supreme Court, which supported Moraes’ ruling. The suspension, which imposed restrictions on free speech more stringent than those in the U.S., followed X’s closure of 226 far-right accounts since 2019. These accounts were accused of undermining democracy.
When X refused to remove additional accounts, Moraes threatened to imprison its local legal representative. In response, X shut down its local office, leading to the Supreme Court’s nationwide ban until the company complied with local regulations. A contentious part of the ruling was a $9,000 daily fine for Brazilians using VPNs to access X, a measure criticized as excessive by some, including Andrei Roman, CEO of Atlas Intel, who called it “onerous and abusive.”
Ongoing Debate and Bolsonaro’s Legal Issues
Despite the ban, some right-wing politicians used VPNs to post on X, urging their followers to join the Independence Day protests. The debate over the platform’s suspension has intensified Brazil’s political polarization, with some viewing the judiciary’s actions as necessary and others as an infringement on free speech.
The Independence Day rally underscored Bolsonaro’s enduring influence, even as he faces significant legal challenges. Since leaving office in 2022, Bolsonaro has been indicted twice, most recently for money laundering involving undeclared diamonds from Saudi Arabia. Moraes is also investigating whether Bolsonaro played a role in inciting the January 8 riot.
