They reject far-right candidate Flavio Bolsonaro and back President Lula da Silva ahead of runoff.
On Wednesday, thousands of students marched through downtown Rio de Janeiro to defend their rights, reject the advance of the far right embodied by Flavio Bolsonaro, and show their support for Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
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The gathering began at the emblematic La Candelaria church, where students and professors from different universities and public schools in Rio assembled.
Armed with banners that read “Out with Bolsonaro,” “Lula President,” and “Students are anti-fascist,” the young people peacefully occupied several streets of the center of the capital of Rio state for about four hours.
The demonstrators showed their rejection of the trend being seen in Brazil in favor of right-wing candidates, as happened in the elections on Sunday, Oct. 4, when Flavio Bolsonaro obtained 47% of the votes in the first round, compared with the 45% reached by Lula.
Nas ruas do Rio de Janeiro, nossa juventude grita pela democracia, pela Educação, pelo Brasil. É o grito que está nas gargantas de quem se preocupa com o futuro. É pelo Brasil. Lula presidente 13. pic.twitter.com/UVw5pVZo4O
— Benedita da Silva (@dasilvabenedita) October 7, 2026
The text reads, “On Rio de Janeiro’s streets, our youth are crying out for democracy, for education, and for Brazil. The cry from the throats of those concerned about the future is for Brazil. Lula for President, 13!.”
The result of the national elections was as surprising as the result of the elections for governor of Rio de Janeiro, where conservative candidate Douglas Ruas defeated Eduardo Paes, the candidate backed by Lula.
In this sense, the demonstrators highlighted the importance of defending student rights promoted by the Workers’ Party leader not only in the current administration but also in his two previous terms (2003-2010).
With a loud chant that said “Worker, look over here, I am on the street so that your child can study,” the demonstrators called the attention of workers who appeared at windows to watch the march.
The protest, called “Youth in the street for democracy,” is part of a campaign to defend democratic institutions and public education that seeks to reinforce its presence in the streets as the main instrument of political pressure and defense of social rights.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
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