Who’s Behind the Far-Right Riots in Brazil?

On January 8th, right-wing Brazilians stormed the federal building and Supreme Court in the capital of Brasília. Inspired by baseless accusations by former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro that the October elections were stolen, the rioters broke windows, smashed art, destroyed paintings, stole computers and more.

The incident is reminiscent of the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Congress and Capitol building by supporters of Donald Trump: claims of stolen elections, far right violence aimed at intimidating democratic processes, and even the involvement of Steve Bannon, who called the Brazilians involved “freedom fighters.” But the new Brazilian government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is acting swiftly to hold those involved accountable, including Bolsonaro and allies who fled to Florida before Lula’s inauguration.

We discuss with Zoe Pepper Cunningham, Co-Editor of People’s Dispatch.