Brazilians demonstrate against Bolsonaro, slow vaccine rollout
People attend a protest against Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, July 3, 2021. REUTERS
RIO DE JANEIRO/BRASÍLIA — Protesters took to the streets in Brazil on Saturday demanding the impeachment of President Jair Bolsonaro and more vaccines to fight the coronavirus pandemic, as the country faces the world’s second deadliest outbreak after the United States.
On Friday, Supreme Court Justice Rosa Weber authorized the opening of an investigation into Bolsonaro over alleged irregularities in procurement of vaccine developed in India.
The protests were originally scheduled for July 24, but were brought forward after evidence of irregularities related to that vaccine deal were presented before a Senate committee investigating the federal government’s handling of the pandemic.
Brazil’s COVID crisis has been compounded by a slow vaccine rollout.
“It was not denialism, it was corruption,” said a banner held by 71-year-old Marilda Barroso in Rio de Janeiro.
Article continues after this advertisementBy 2 p.m. local time, protests had drawn thousands of people in at least 13 state capitals, according to local media reports. Demonstrations were scheduled to take place in 315 Brazilian cities and in 15 countries, local media reported citing the organizers of the acts.
More protests were scheduled to take place in the afternoon, including in Brazil’s biggest city of São Paulo.
For more news about the novel coronavirus click here.
What you need to know about Coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.
The Inquirer Foundation supports our healthcare frontliners and is still accepting cash donations to be deposited at Banco de Oro (BDO) current account #007960018860 or donate through PayMaya using this link.
