Thousands of Brazilians gathered in Rio de Janeiro to cheer on Elon Musk for defying the country’s Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes‘ order to shut down X accounts of the establishment’s political opposition.
Scenes from Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana beach on Sunday showed throngs of people dressed in Brazil’s signature yellow and green colors cheering for Musk in an event organized by embattled former President Jair Bolsonaro.
Brazilian politician Nikolas Ferreira of the Liberal Party called for attendees to thank Musk for his efforts to bring transparency to the government’s efforts to suppress free speech on the X platform.
“Here I want to say thank you to a foreign man Elon Musk for what he’s doing,” he said. “Because I know this is going to go around the world and I ask for a round of applause for the fight for our country’s freedom.”
Brazil thanks @elonmusk
pic.twitter.com/81W8z8Wjxx
— Nikolas Ferreira (@nikolas_dm) April 21, 2024
Bolsonaro said in a social media post before the rally. “The whole world is aware of how threatened our freedom of expression is. Let’s do our peaceful act, in defense of democracy, for our freedom, without signs or banners.”
NEW: Massive pro-free speech protest at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Former president Jair Bolsonaro reportedly rallied the massive crowd, defending free speech amidst X’s battle with the Brazilian government.
“The whole world is aware of how threatened our… pic.twitter.com/BJaWcXxmmd
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 21, 2024
“What you see here are freedom-loving people who are fighting for democracy! What you see here are people who love liberty, who do not give up, who will not bow down to dictatorships!” congressman Gustavo Gayer shouted to the crowd.
Copacabana, Brazil – The Congressman Gustavo Gayer sends the Brazilian people’s message to the world @elonmusk
“We will never give up and we will be the hope of the world”
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— BielConn
Thousands of Brazilians are fighting for freedom of speech. They will not allow Brazil to become a far-left legal dictatorship.
— Dr. Simon Goddek (@goddeketal) April 21, 2024
Rio de Janeiro, Copacabana Beach: Brazilians answer Bolsonaro’s call in a MASSIVE demonstration. pic.twitter.com/lK2CH0jECs
— Paul Serran (@paul_serran) April 21, 2024
Freedom for Brazil – Rio de Janeiro. If not for , you wouldn’t know this is happening. pic.twitter.com/ognpnNu4LM
— Nikolas Ferreira (@nikolas_dm) April 21, 2024
— Nikolas Ferreira (@nikolas_dm) April 21, 2024
Alexandre de Moraes ordered an inquiry into Musk alleging he disseminated defamatory fake news, and launched another probe over possible obstruction, incitement and criminal organization.
Meanwhile, Brazilian authorities are investigating whether Bolsonaro plotted an attempted coup to prevent his 2022 election opponent and current socialist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking power in January 2023.