Hundreds Protest Against Brazil's Bolsonaro

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Hundreds protested Sunday against Jair Bolsanaro in Rio de Janeiro and other cities in demonstrations called on by conservative Brazilian groups to demand Bolsanaro's impeachment, days after a mass mobilization by far-right groups in support of the president. Under his ruling, Brazil is witnessing crisis after crisis.

The demonstrations in the streets of Rio de Janeiro and other Brazilian cities were held by conservative Brazilian movements, such as Movimento Brasil Livre (Free Brazil Movement) and Vem Pra Rua (Come to the Street). These two movements had pressed for the impeachment of leftist President Dilma Rousseff in 2016.

Today, they are pressing for a third way in the 2022 elections under the slogan of "Neither Bolsonaro nor Lula," a political opponent of Bolsanaro's and Brazil's former President from 2003 to 2010.

Organizers expected large crowds, but without the support of groups such as Lula da Silva's Workers' Party, the demonstrations were much smaller than they had hoped for.

In Rio de Janeiro, several hundred people gathered on Copacabana Beach. Part of the crowd was wearing "Lula 2022" t-shirts, while others wore white - an indication of political neutrality. Both parties were waving Brazilian flags.

In Sao Paulo, several hundred others gathered wearing white t-shirts on Avenida Paulista or Paulista Avenue, where Bolsonaro mobilized around 125,000 supporters on Tuesday.

The largest of demonstrations against Bolsonaro was convened by major leftist parties such s Lula's Workers' Party and the Central Única dos Trabalhadores, Unified Workers' Central, in which tens of thousands participated.

Around a year ahead of the presidential elections, Lula and Bolsanaro are head to head. According to opinion polls, the unionist leader is advancing in the second round.