Thu Jan 09 00:16:31 UTC 2025: ## Lula Marks Anniversary of Brazil’s ‘Coup Attempt’ with Defiant Rally

**Brasília, Brazil** – Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva commemorated the second anniversary of the January 8, 2023 attack on government buildings with a rally in Brasília’s Three Powers Plaza, the very location of the violence. Lula, who recently underwent brain surgery, denounced the riots as a “coup attempt” orchestrated by supporters of his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro.

Thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed the presidential palace, Supreme Court, and Congress on January 8th, 2023, causing millions of dollars in damage and injuring numerous law enforcement officers and protesters. The attack, which occurred just a week after Lula’s inauguration, aimed to overthrow his newly elected government.

Lula addressed a crowd of supporters, declaring, “Today is the day to say loud and clear: We’re still here. We’re here to say that we are alive and that democracy is alive.” He directly linked the riots to Bolsonaro’s campaign of disinformation, which falsely claimed Brazil’s electronic voting system was rigged. This misinformation fueled widespread protests and unrest leading up to the inauguration, including highway blockades and attacks on police.

Bolsonaro, who left Brazil for Florida before Lula’s inauguration, faces multiple legal investigations, including allegations of spreading misinformation and his potential involvement in the January 8th attack. In June 2023, he was banned from holding office until 2030 for using government resources to undermine the electoral system. Further, federal police formally accused Bolsonaro and 36 allies in November 2024 of plotting to overturn the 2022 election results. Meanwhile, Bolsonaro recently claimed on social media that he had been invited to US President-elect Trump’s inauguration and has requested the return of his confiscated passport. The ongoing investigations into Bolsonaro’s actions continue. Lula’s defiant stance underscores the deep political divisions that persist in Brazil two years after the attack.

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