Thousands Protest on Brazil's Independence Day Against Supreme Court Justice Over X Ban

Sep 7, 2024, 05:15 PM

Brazil is experiencing widespread protests against Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes following his controversial decision to ban the social media platform X. The ban, which affects all 220 million Brazilians, has been criticized as an arbitrary and unconstitutional move, with fines of almost $9,000 a day for those who try to circumvent it. The protests, coinciding with Brazil's Independence Day, have drawn thousands of demonstrators in cities like Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Belo Horizonte. Protesters are demanding the impeachment of de Moraes, accusing him of acting like a dictator and suppressing free speech. Former President Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters, including his son Eduardo Bolsonaro, are prominently involved in the protests, highlighting concerns over political targeting and censorship. The situation has garnered international attention, with figures like Elon Musk and various media outlets weighing in on the implications of the ban. Additionally, de Moraes has faced criticism for censoring Brazilian gospel singer Davi Sacer. The ban on X began on August 31 and has been labeled completely arbitrary by political consultant Leonardo Barreto.