Brazil: a Protest

Letter to The Guardian 31st August, 2018

[Photo shows former President Lula of the PT (Workers' Party), now in prison]

31 August marks two years since Dilma Rousseff’s removal as president of Brazil when 61 senators trampled on the political will expressed at the ballot box by the 54 million Brazilians who had elected her. Since then, the illegitimate Michel Temer-led government has shown its true colours with hardline austerity policies.

Despite having no mandate, the government has reversed social programmes that took 40 million people out of poverty. Its policies have plunged the economy into deeper crisis, damaged public services, and hurt the living standards of millions.

This is has been accompanied by the ongoing persecution of former president Lula and an increase in violence and repression against trade unions, social movements and other progressive forces.

It is perhaps not surprising therefore that Temer’s approval ratings are in single figures. We stand with the millions of Brazilians resisting these ongoing attacks on democracy and social progress.

Colin Burgon Honorary president, Labour Friends of Progressive Latin America
Chris Williamson MP (Labour) 
Matt Willgress Editor, No Coup in Brazil
Tariq Ali Writer and historian
Benjamin Zephaniah Poet
Lowkey Rapper
Victoria Brittain Journalist and writer
Andy de la Tour Actor and writer
Baroness Jean Corston (Labour) 
Neil Findley MSP (Labour) 
Lord Nicholas Rea (Labour) 
Tony Burke and Steve Turner Assistant general secretary, Unite the Union
Steve Turner Assistant general secretary, Unite the Union
Kiri Tunks President, National Education Union (NUT Section) 
Doug Nicholls General secretary, General Federation of Trade Unions

Manuel Cortes General secretary, TSSA
Ronnie Draper General secretary, BFAWU
Zita Holbourne National chair, Barac UK
Lindsey German Convenor, Stop the War Coalition
Sue Branford Editor, Latin America Bureau
Ken Livingstone Former mayor of London
Dr Francisco Dominguez Head of Latin American studies, Middlesex University
Prof John Gledhill Emeritus professor, University of Manchester
Dr Marina Prentoulis University of East Anglia
Rachel Garnham Labour party NEC member