Lula supported the women's march in Brasilia …

Tens of thousands of women participated in the traditional "margaritas march" in Brasilia, used this year to demonstrate against President Jair Bolsonaro and in favor of the release of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The big meeting is held every four years with an agenda that prioritises the defense of women's rights in a country severely affected by domestic violence.

This year, however, the march has also been a reason to denounce the government for policies aimed at the peasant sector, which favors large producers and relegates to family farming, easing the use of agrochemicals and allowing blind opening. producers. indigenous lands to mining.

The women condemned the machismo of Bolsonaro, who has a long history of racist and homophobic statements and is a sincere opponent of the feminist movement. Many indigenous peoples who took part in another march on Tuesday denouncing the "genocidal policies" of the Basle government joined the demonstration.

According to the organizers, about 100,000 people participated, a figure that the police authorities have reduced to 30,000, but which is in any case the largest demonstration in Brasilia since the beginning of his term on 1 January.

The column of women walked the esplanade of the ministries until they reached the presidential palace of Plbadto, with banners displaying messages such as "Brazil without violence" or "It is women who will save the country from delay, "while chanting" Lula Libre ", calling for the release of the former president by the Workers' Party (PT) between 2003 and 2010, serving a conviction for corruption, that he categorically denies, and through a judicial process tainted and questioned by jurists from different parts of the world.

The majority of participants wore flowers and wore straw hats and purple clothing, a color symbol of the event. In their speeches, they called Bolsonaro "misogynist, racist and homophobic". "We are going through difficult times with a government that is constantly attacking us, and we are losing our rights," said Juliana Joucoski, a 43-year-old teacher from Curitiba.

"Women are at the center of all violence in Brazil," said Fabiana Nascimento. "It is necessary to say NO to any policy that destroys the rights of the public.The situation in the countryside has deteriorated.We have never had a president so disrespectful of education," he said. he declared.

Maria da Conceição Tavares, an 89-year-old Brazilian economist also present, directly explained the growing indignation and the need for the population to organize: "We need new channels of participation; the people do not feel represented by these politicians. "

The progressive opposition seemed to be reborn with this demonstration, according to the perception of MP Paulo Pimenta, PT. "We are back," said the parliamentarian in the middle of an event gathering representatives of all parties of the left of the country.

Former President Lula da Silva also joined the protest through a letter that he sent from prison and which was read by the former candidate to the presidency, Fernando Haddad, defeated in elections in October 2018 by Bolsonaro.

"The women of our country will be respected again and hatred will not defeat love, fear will not defeat hope and rudeness will not overcome solidarity," writes Lula in the text read in front of concentrated women at that time. at the doors of Parliament's headquarters.

The former president said that during his tenure and that of the dismissed Dilma Rousseff, he "began to build a better country, endowed with social inclusion, democracy, freedom of thought, to speak and to speak. # 39; organize ". According to the former president, the "political persecution" that led him to prison has given way to "a Brazil ruled by the hatred and madness of those who speak well with the powerful and who claim to be brave against the poorest ".

Lula closed the letter with a message of hope for social movements who, along with the former president, denounce their "persecution" by the Bolsonaro government. "Let's go ahead without fear of being happy, the daisies have arrived and they do not know how to stop spring," he said.

Margaritas March is the third in the capital of Brazil in two days. In addition to mobilizing women, a protest against budget cuts in education and pension reform took place on Tuesday. The protests were convened at a time when the popularity of the current president was collapsing: several investigations gave him support of about 30% of Brazilians, after only seven months in a position he badumed. with support greater than 55%. .