On Sunday, September 21, 2025, the streets of Brazil’s major cities pulsed with a rare energy as tens of thousands of citizens rallied against a potential pardon for former President Jair Bolsonaro and his allies. The protests, which swept across all 26 states and the federal district, marked a dramatic response to recent legislative moves that critics say could undermine the country’s democracy and accountability at the highest levels.
The outcry was ignited by two controversial actions in Brazil’s lower house of parliament. On Tuesday, September 16, lawmakers passed a constitutional amendment that would make it significantly harder to arrest or launch criminal proceedings against deputies. The very next day, the same chamber voted to fast-track a bill—championed by right-wing opposition lawmakers—that could grant amnesty to Bolsonaro, his closest associates, and hundreds of supporters convicted of their roles in the January 2023 uprising. Both measures now await Senate consideration, and their combined effect has fueled fears of impunity for those accused of attacking Brazil’s democratic institutions.
According to the University of São Paulo’s Monitor of Political Debate and the nonprofit More in Common, the turnout in Brazil’s two largest cities was staggering. São Paulo saw an estimated 42,400 demonstrators, while 41,800 gathered in Rio de Janeiro, making these the largest left-wing protests since President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s 2022 election victory. “Right-wing mobilizations have typically been three times larger than those of the left,” Pablo Ortellado, director of the Monitor, told the Associated Press. “In recent months, that pattern has changed. The opposition’s support for [U.S. President Donald] Trump’s tariffs and for the amendment has brought the left back to the streets.”
Drone photographs provided by the University of São Paulo’s research team helped estimate the vast crowds, which rivaled those seen during Brazil’s most contentious political moments. These numbers reflect not just the scale of public anger, but also a notable shift in political mobilization in a country deeply polarized by recent events.
Bolsonaro, who was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison on September 11, 2025, for attempting to stay in power after losing the 2022 reelection bid, remains a central figure in the nation’s political drama. The Supreme Court found the 70-year-old former president guilty on five counts, including attempted coup and leading an armed criminal organization. Bolsonaro, for his part, has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
The legislative push to shield lawmakers from prosecution and to potentially pardon Bolsonaro and his allies has been met with outrage by many across the political spectrum. Ana Paula Brito, a 37-year-old nanny who joined the São Paulo protest, told the Associated Press, “They [politicians] are rich, have plenty of money and keep stealing. No funds are ever released for us. That’s one more reason we’re in the streets today.” Her words echo a widespread frustration with what many see as a culture of impunity among Brazil’s political elite.
The protests were not just the work of political organizations. Some of Brazil’s most beloved artists took center stage, lending their voices and reputations to the cause. Music legends Caetano Veloso, Chico Buarque, and Gilberto Gil—who famously defied censorship during the military dictatorship of the 1960s—reunited in Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana neighborhood. In an interview with UOL published Saturday, Veloso expressed his indignation: “I was outraged by the news that many deputies voted in favor of a shielding law for themselves and their colleagues. This, along with a proposal for amnesty for the coup plotters. I think I identified with the majority of the Brazilian population, who do not want these things to go through.”
Elsewhere, Brazilian actor Wagner Moura addressed the crowd in Salvador, Bahia, from atop a truck, emphasizing what he called “this extraordinary moment in Brazilian democracy, which serves as an example to the entire world.” The participation of such prominent cultural figures underscored the seriousness with which many Brazilians view the current political crossroads.
The symbolism of the protests was unmissable. On the very avenue where, just two weeks prior, right-wing demonstrators had unfurled a massive U.S. flag and thanked Donald Trump for imposing sanctions on Brazil, the left responded by displaying a giant Brazilian flag. Posters, T-shirts, and stickers at the protests rejected amnesty and expanded protections for lawmakers, while also affirming national pride and sovereignty in the face of foreign interference. This display was a direct rebuttal to the July 2025 announcement by U.S. President Trump of a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports—a move he explicitly linked to Bolsonaro’s fate. The U.S. Treasury even placed sanctions on Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw Bolsonaro’s case and is regarded by the ex-president as a political foe.
Brazil’s deep divisions were further highlighted by the latest Datafolha poll, released September 16. The survey revealed that 50% of respondents believe Bolsonaro should be jailed, while 43% disagreed and 7% declined to answer. The poll, which canvassed 2,005 people nationwide and had a margin of error of two percentage points, underscores the country’s polarized mood.
While the left has struggled in recent years to match the right’s ability to mobilize large crowds, Sunday’s demonstrations signaled a potential turning point. The last significant right-wing rally occurred on September 7, just ahead of Bolsonaro’s Supreme Court trial, drawing thousands of his supporters. Yet, as Pablo Ortellado observed, the left’s resurgence has been fueled by what many see as a direct assault on the rule of law and the principle that no one—including lawmakers or former presidents—should stand above justice.
As the Senate prepares to debate the controversial amendment and amnesty bill, the outcome remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that Brazilians from all walks of life are watching closely—and are willing to take to the streets to defend their vision of democracy. The battle over Bolsonaro’s fate and the broader question of accountability for political leaders have become a litmus test for the health of Brazil’s democracy.
In the end, the extraordinary turnout and the passionate voices of both ordinary citizens and cultural icons suggest that, for now, Brazil’s democratic spirit is very much alive and unwilling to be silenced.