A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
Brazil's Independence Day was marked by protests Sunday in support of former President Jair Bolsonaro. The Trump ally is on trial for allegedly plotting a coup after losing his 2022 reelection bid. A verdict is expected this week. Julia Carneiro has this report.
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UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: (Chanting in Portuguese).
JULIA CARNEIRO: On Sao Paulo's Paulista Avenue, crowds chanted Brazil's independence hymn to free the homeland or to die for Brazil.
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UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: (Chanting in Portuguese).
CARNEIRO: People here are demanding amnesty for Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters on trial over the violent January 8 riots in Brasilia in 2023. Protester Fatima Silva (ph) says Bolsonaro isn't receiving a fair trial.
FATIMA SILVA: I know that they want to condemn him. We are going to fight until the end to see him free.
CARNEIRO: On stage, Bolsonaro's wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, and political allies address the crowds.
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TARCISIO DE FREITAS: (Speaking Portuguese).
CARNEIRO: Sao Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas shouts, enough abuse, accusing Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who's leading the case, of tyranny. The crowds respond with chants of, out with Moraes.
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UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: (Chanting in Portuguese).
CARNEIRO: Among all the Brazilian flags, there are also many American flags. President Trump has called Bolsonaro's trial a witch hunt and imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian exports in retaliation. Many here still hail Trump as a savior, including protesters like Alexandre Brasil (ph).
ALEXANDRE BRASIL: We are very grateful to Mr. Trump because with these kind of actions, this is helping our people to wake up.
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CARNEIRO: But in the capital, Brasilia, Independence Day sent a different message, with banners reading Sovereign Brazil. In his address, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva defended the country's independence.
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PRESIDENT LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA: (Speaking Portuguese).
CARNEIRO: Lula said Brazil was nobody's colony and would not accept orders from anyone. The trial in the Supreme Court resumes on Tuesday. Bolsonaro is facing five charges, including attempting to violently end the democratic rule of law and plotting a coup. Now Brazil waits as a historic trial for its young democracy heads toward a verdict. If found guilty, Bolsonaro could be sentenced to up to 40 years in prison.
For NPR News, I'm Julia Carneiro in Sao Paulo.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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