Across Brazil, on Sunday, September 22, 2025, a wave of demonstrations swept through all 26 states and the Federal District. Citizens gathered en masse to voice their outrage against a proposed bill that could grant a pardon to former President Jair Bolsonaro and his allies, all of whom have been convicted for attempting a coup.
The calls for these nationwide protests intensified after a pivotal week in the lower house of parliament. On Tuesday, lawmakers passed a constitutional amendment that critics argue would significantly complicate the process of arresting or initiating criminal proceedings against elected officials. This controversial measure is now slated to advance to the Senate for further consideration.
Further fueling public anger, the lower house voted the very next day to fast-track another bill, strongly supported by right-wing opposition figures. This legislation has the potential to offer amnesty to Bolsonaro, his closest associates, and hundreds of his followers who were found guilty for their involvement in the January 2023 uprising.
Former President Bolsonaro himself was sentenced on September 11 to 27 years and three months in prison. His conviction stems from his efforts to remain in power following his defeat in the 2022 reelection bid. He stands as the first former president in Latin America’s largest economy to be convicted for attempting to overturn an election, a charge he has consistently denied.
Adding significant weight to the Sunday demonstrations, several of Brazil’s most revered artists actively organized and promoted the events. Music legends such as Caetano Veloso, Chico Buarque, and Gilberto Gil – figures known for their defiance of censorship during Brazil’s 1960s military dictatorship – reunited in Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Copacabana neighborhood to join the protest.
In an interview published Saturday, Veloso expressed his profound displeasure, stating, “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.” Superstar Anitta, a native of Rio de Janeiro, also joined the chorus of criticism in an Instagram video, emphasizing, “The people are the ones who shape the country’s politics. We have the right and the duty to hold politicians accountable, after all, we vote and they work for the good of the population.”
Dulce Oliveira, a 53-year-old teacher participating in the Brasilia demonstration, echoed Anitta’s sentiments, asserting, “This protest is important because the people need to show them what we want, because they are there to represent our needs, not their own.” Brazilian actor Wagner Moura attended the Salvador, Bahia protest. Speaking passionately to the crowd from atop a truck, he chose not to dwell on the specifics of the legislative proposals but instead highlighted “this extraordinary moment in Brazilian democracy, which serves as an example to the entire world.”
These Sunday protests, predominantly organized by artists and left-wing groups, saw a significant turnout, especially when compared to right-wing mobilizations. Notably, on September 7, just before Bolsonaro’s Supreme Court trial, thousands of his supporters had rallied in his defense.
Current polls underscore the deep divisions within the country regarding Bolsonaro’s political fate. While a majority of the population appears to support his conviction and imprisonment, a substantial portion of Brazilians continues to stand by him. A Datafolha poll released on September 16 indicated that 50% of respondents believed Bolsonaro should be jailed, while 43% disagreed, and 7% chose not to respond. The survey, which interviewed 2,005 people nationwide, carries a margin of error of 2 percentage points.