Thousands of Brazilians have taken to the streets of Brazil to protest against the far-right presidential election front-runner Jair Bolsonaro, known for making disparaging comments against women and other minorities, as well as supporting the use of torture.
Tens of thousands of women uttering the words Ele Nao (not him) were seen on stickers and banners and were shouted by the crowds on Saturday. Around 7,000 people also gathered in the capital, Brasilia, to denounce the candidate. A handful of rallies in support of him were also planned for the weekend.
A former army captain, Jair Bolsonaro is a hugely controversial figure and has sparked outrage with homophobic and misogynist comments.
Mr Bolsonaro was stabbed at a rally earlier this month and is currently leading in the polls ahead of the first round of elections on 7 October. The country is deeply polarized ahead of this elections.
The movement against Mr Bolsonaro began with a Facebook group calling for demonstrations that now has almost four million members.
The homecoming of Jair Bolsonaro from hospital was upstaged this weekend by huge demonstrations as concerns over his authoritarian tendencies grew.
“He is sexist. He is misogynist. He is racist,” said Ana Paulo Gonçalves, 24, a teacher. “He wants to go back to the military dictatorship,” said her sister Christine, 29, a designer.
He once told a congresswoman she was not worth raping and has equated homosexuality with paedophilia.
Some have compared the 63-year-old to Donald Trump. He enjoys the backing of millions of evangelical Christians who praise his anti-abortion stance
Leida Queiroz, an old member of Brazil’s Communist Party who spent her youth fighting the country’s military dictatorship, said she fears its return if Bolsonaro wins election.
In Rio the huge crowds that filled the city centre were notable for their diversity, with women of all ages, many of whom had brought children, male and LGBT demonstrators, chanting “not him”
>Juthy Saha
