To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.
A supporter of the former Brazilian president Luis Inacio Lula da Silva holds a flag during a national strike protest called by unions and students against the Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's pension reform in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 14, 2019. (Photo: Mauro Pimentel/AFP/Getty Images)
Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, known as Lula, was freed from prison Friday after a year-and-a-half behind bars due to a politically motivated prosecution from the country's right-wing government.
A large crowd, most decked in Workers' Party red, gathered to welcome Lula back to freedom.
"You don't know how much you represent me," the former Brazilian president told the throng of supporters.
\u201c@LulaOficial: thanks all of his supporters for coming every day to wish him good mornings and cheer him up with massive demonstrations. He also thanks all the political organizations that worked in the campaign for his liberation. "You don't know how much you represent for me"\u201d— teleSUR English (@teleSUR English) 1573247187
"An extraordinary day in Brazil," The Intercept's Glenn Greenwald tweeted, "for the world, given Lula's stature."
\u201chttps://t.co/A8OkhnMqct\u201d— Glenn Greenwald (@Glenn Greenwald) 1573241213
"It's an emotional day," Greenwald added.
"Wow!" Greenwald's Intercept colleague, writer Naomi Klein, replied. "This is big."
For his part, Lula tweeted a video of himself working out, saying "Lula Livre."
\u201cThis Tweet from @LulaOficial has been withheld in response to a report from the copyright holder. Learn more.\u201d— gui (@gui) 1573241743
Lula was imprisoned in April 2018 after a series of events that The Associated Press described as part of a plot by Brazil's right-wing to seize power:
Da Silva's hand-picked successor, Dilma Rousseff, was impeached and removed from office in 2016. Then Da Silva was jailed in April 2018 after a group of judges upheld his conviction for corruption and money laundering. That left his leftist Workers' Party rudderless, and it was further demoralized when routed in the 2018 general elections.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who is running for the 2020 Democratic nomination for president, called for Lula's release from prison in June and remains the only 2020 presidential candidate to do so. Sanders tweeted Friday that he was "delighted" Lula was free," calling the Brazilian leader's imprisonment "something that never should have happened in the first place."
\u201cAs President, Lula has done more than anyone to lower poverty in Brazil and to stand up for workers. I am delighted that he has been released from jail, something that never should have happened in the first place.\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1573248923
In his remarks to the crowd, Lula repeatedly returned to a message of unity.
"They did not imprison a man," said Lula. "They wanted to kill an idea. And ideas are not killed."
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, known as Lula, was freed from prison Friday after a year-and-a-half behind bars due to a politically motivated prosecution from the country's right-wing government.
A large crowd, most decked in Workers' Party red, gathered to welcome Lula back to freedom.
"You don't know how much you represent me," the former Brazilian president told the throng of supporters.
\u201c@LulaOficial: thanks all of his supporters for coming every day to wish him good mornings and cheer him up with massive demonstrations. He also thanks all the political organizations that worked in the campaign for his liberation. "You don't know how much you represent for me"\u201d— teleSUR English (@teleSUR English) 1573247187
"An extraordinary day in Brazil," The Intercept's Glenn Greenwald tweeted, "for the world, given Lula's stature."
\u201chttps://t.co/A8OkhnMqct\u201d— Glenn Greenwald (@Glenn Greenwald) 1573241213
"It's an emotional day," Greenwald added.
"Wow!" Greenwald's Intercept colleague, writer Naomi Klein, replied. "This is big."
For his part, Lula tweeted a video of himself working out, saying "Lula Livre."
\u201cThis Tweet from @LulaOficial has been withheld in response to a report from the copyright holder. Learn more.\u201d— gui (@gui) 1573241743
Lula was imprisoned in April 2018 after a series of events that The Associated Press described as part of a plot by Brazil's right-wing to seize power:
Da Silva's hand-picked successor, Dilma Rousseff, was impeached and removed from office in 2016. Then Da Silva was jailed in April 2018 after a group of judges upheld his conviction for corruption and money laundering. That left his leftist Workers' Party rudderless, and it was further demoralized when routed in the 2018 general elections.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who is running for the 2020 Democratic nomination for president, called for Lula's release from prison in June and remains the only 2020 presidential candidate to do so. Sanders tweeted Friday that he was "delighted" Lula was free," calling the Brazilian leader's imprisonment "something that never should have happened in the first place."
\u201cAs President, Lula has done more than anyone to lower poverty in Brazil and to stand up for workers. I am delighted that he has been released from jail, something that never should have happened in the first place.\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1573248923
In his remarks to the crowd, Lula repeatedly returned to a message of unity.
"They did not imprison a man," said Lula. "They wanted to kill an idea. And ideas are not killed."
Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, known as Lula, was freed from prison Friday after a year-and-a-half behind bars due to a politically motivated prosecution from the country's right-wing government.
A large crowd, most decked in Workers' Party red, gathered to welcome Lula back to freedom.
"You don't know how much you represent me," the former Brazilian president told the throng of supporters.
\u201c@LulaOficial: thanks all of his supporters for coming every day to wish him good mornings and cheer him up with massive demonstrations. He also thanks all the political organizations that worked in the campaign for his liberation. "You don't know how much you represent for me"\u201d— teleSUR English (@teleSUR English) 1573247187
"An extraordinary day in Brazil," The Intercept's Glenn Greenwald tweeted, "for the world, given Lula's stature."
\u201chttps://t.co/A8OkhnMqct\u201d— Glenn Greenwald (@Glenn Greenwald) 1573241213
"It's an emotional day," Greenwald added.
"Wow!" Greenwald's Intercept colleague, writer Naomi Klein, replied. "This is big."
For his part, Lula tweeted a video of himself working out, saying "Lula Livre."
\u201cThis Tweet from @LulaOficial has been withheld in response to a report from the copyright holder. Learn more.\u201d— gui (@gui) 1573241743
Lula was imprisoned in April 2018 after a series of events that The Associated Press described as part of a plot by Brazil's right-wing to seize power:
Da Silva's hand-picked successor, Dilma Rousseff, was impeached and removed from office in 2016. Then Da Silva was jailed in April 2018 after a group of judges upheld his conviction for corruption and money laundering. That left his leftist Workers' Party rudderless, and it was further demoralized when routed in the 2018 general elections.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who is running for the 2020 Democratic nomination for president, called for Lula's release from prison in June and remains the only 2020 presidential candidate to do so. Sanders tweeted Friday that he was "delighted" Lula was free," calling the Brazilian leader's imprisonment "something that never should have happened in the first place."
\u201cAs President, Lula has done more than anyone to lower poverty in Brazil and to stand up for workers. I am delighted that he has been released from jail, something that never should have happened in the first place.\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1573248923
In his remarks to the crowd, Lula repeatedly returned to a message of unity.
"They did not imprison a man," said Lula. "They wanted to kill an idea. And ideas are not killed."