On Saturday, September 29, cities across Brazil filled with tens of thousands of voices shouting two simple words: “ele não” – not him. What began as a series of social media hashtags used to condemn far-right extremist candidate Jair Bolsonaro (#EleNão, #EleNunca, #MulheresContraBolsonaro) has turned into a significant and widely mobilized political movement.
Video of Saturday’s protests across Brazil was shared widely on social media.
Jair Bolsonaro is one of the frontrunners in Brazil’s upcoming presidential elections. In addition to making openly misogynistic and homophobic comments, Bolsonaro has openly celebrated the country’s last military dictatorship, voiced support for the use of torture, and threatened to reject any result other than . Brazil and the international community recognize that electing Bolsonaro would bring Brazil dangerously close to the authoritarian regime that commanded the country from 1964-85.
Video of protests in Londrina, PR.
Feminism fueled the country-wide protests, all of which swelled with women’s voices in explicit protest of the candidate’s attitude towards women.
A sign reads #MulheresNegrasSim - #BlackWomenYes - at a #NotHim protest in Rio de Janeiro. Photo by Dylan Edelstein.
Women protest Bolsonaro in Londrina, PR.
Women organize performance as part of a protest in Londrina, PR.
Artememoria contributors photographed the protests in Rio de Janeiro and in the smaller city of Londrina, PR. The newspaper O Globo reports that Bolsonaro finds much of his support in the south of Brazil, and particularly in inland cities like Londrina.
#EleNão protestors shout from iconic monuments in the center of Rio de Janeiro. Photo by Dylan Edelstein.
Rio de Janeiro streets fill with protestors. Photo by Dylan Edelstein.
Protestors in Londrina, PR march with banners calling out Bolsonaro as a fascist candidate.
Protestors in fill streets in the center of Londrina, PR.
The first round of Brazil’s presidential election will take place on October 7.