Anti-Censorship Protest in Brazil Draws Massive Crowd

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Thousands of demonstrators gathered on São Paulo’s Avenida Paulista on Saturday, September 7, Brazil Independence Day, to protest against Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes and demand his impeachment.

Clad in the national colors of green and yellow, the protesters voiced their concerns about freedom of speech and alleged judicial overreach. Among the prominent voices were former president Jair Bolsonaro and several right-wing political figures.

Bolsonaro, who remains in the political spotlight despite being declared ineligible for office by Brazil’s electoral court, delivered a speech advocating for the amnesty of those arrested following the January 8 riots in Brasília. He expressed confidence that his ineligibility would be overturned by Brazil’s Congress, and he also reiterated his call for the impeachment of Moraes, whom he referred to as a “dictator.”

“I hope the Senate puts a stop to Alexandre de Moraes, this dictator who has done more harm to Brazil than Lula himself,” Bolsonaro said. He criticized the justice for overstepping constitutional boundaries, urging the Brazilian Senate to intervene.

Religious leader Silas Malafaia was among the speakers, listing what he described as criminal actions by Moraes, including violations of free speech and due process. “Alexandre de Moraes has to be impeached and sent to prison. Criminals belong in prison!” Malafaia exclaimed, to loud applause from the crowd.

Several politicians echoed his sentiments, laying part of the blame on Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco for stalling impeachment proceedings against Moraes.

The demonstration, which spanned over eight city blocks, was marked by the presence of prominent figures from Brazil’s conservative political scene, including Bolsonaro, São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas, and federal lawmakers.

Some participants expressed their gratitude to Elon Musk, the owner of social media platform X (formerly Twitter), for challenging court orders issued by Moraes to restrict content and users on the platform.

Federal lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro, one of the ex-president’s sons, emphasized the need to defend freedom of the press, accusing Moraes of targeting conservative media outlets. He praised Musk for his commitment to free speech and urged attendees to continue fighting for their rights.

The event also drew international participants, including American journalist Michael Shellenberger, known for his involvement in the Brazilian version of the Twitter Files revelations. He spoke to the crowd, warning that the censorship tactics employed by Lula’s administration and Moraes could spread globally.

“By banning X, Lula and Moraes revealed themselves as dictators,” Shellenberger said. He urged the international community to support Brazil’s fight for free speech.

Push for Moraes' Impeachment Grows After X Ban in Brazil

The momentum behind the September 7 protest grew after the social media platform X was blocked in Brazil, with a fine of R$ 50,000 imposed on anyone accessing Elon Musk’s platform via VPN (Virtual Private Network). These measures were ordered by Justice Alexandre de Moraes last week and upheld by the Supreme Court's First Chamber on Monday.

These actions were widely viewed as an attack on freedom of expression. Along with other controversial decisions by Moraes, including the blocking of Starlink accounts, censorship of conservative profiles on social media, the January 8, 2023 arrests, and the fake news investigation, they have fueled a growing push for his impeachment, which is expected to be formally submitted to the Senate on Monday (9).

In response to the X ban, Musk launched an account called "Alexandre Files" on the platform, where he began publishing the minister's orders instructing the company to block conservative profiles.

Musk argued that these directives were unlawful, as they amounted to prior restraint. "We were forced to disclose these orders because the court operates without transparency, and those being censored have no means to appeal. Even our own appeals were ignored," the businessman stated.