Law enforcement joins pro-Bolsonaro uprising in Brazil following 'free and fair’ election

Brazilian law enforcement personnel have reportedly joined heated demonstrations with protesters who are claiming that Sunday’s election, which saw incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro ousted by convict Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, was fraudulent. 

Media report that Left-wing da Silva, who spent four years in prison for corruption, won by less than two percentage points, the narrowest margin for a presidential election in the country’s modern history. 

Fierce protests have erupted throughout the country in favor of Bolsonaro, blocking over 300 roads, including major highways between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the road to Santos and the road to the São Paulo airport. Protesters have reportedly used cranes and farm equipment to block roads connecting Western Brazil to the Amazonian region, as well as the road from Brazil to Paraguay. 

Law enforcement has reportedly also joined the protests, assisting the demonstrators. According to one protester, the National Force has helped protesters set up a roadblock in Acre, near the Peruvian border. National Road Police have assisted protesters in blocking the São Paulo airport and helped them cut through the airport’s fence. Former staff member for Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) Vish Burra says sources reported the São Paulo Civilian Police was under barracks order and some in the police union plan to join the uprising. The road to Santos was reportedly blocked with the help of local military police. 

According to Financial Times, Brazil's top electoral official, Alexandre de Moraes, had to threaten the highway police chief with imprisonment if he did not clear the roads.

YouTube announced it will censor any content questioning the results of Brazil’s election, and reports say that WhatsApp service has been blocked in certain parts of the country. 

While Bolsonaro has been silent since the election, he has also refused to concede.  

In the meantime, Democrat leaders in the U.S. have been posting bizarre tweets congratulating da Silva, all using a key phrase. 

“I send my congratulations to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on his election to be the next president of Brazil following free, fair, and credible elections,” tweeted Biden Monday. “I look forward to working together to continue the cooperation between our two countries in the months and years ahead.” 

“Congratulations to President Lula da Silva and the people of #Brazil on yesterday’s free and fair election. I look forward to a peaceful transfer of power in Brazil,” tweeted Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA). 

“Warm congratulations to [Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva] for his victory in Brazil's free and fair presidential election. The people of Brazil should be proud of their credible, peaceful election process,” wrote former President Bill Clinton. 

“I congratulate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on his victory in Brazil’s free and fair presidential election and look forward to working together to prevent deforestation, address climate change, and advance the goals of my #AMAZON21 legislation that I introduced last year,” tweeted Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD).