Bolsonaro Rally in Rio Draws Thousands Amid Coup Allegations and Legal Battles

Supporters of Brazil's former president demand amnesty for January 2023 rioters as Bolsonaro faces potential trial on coup charges.

Thousands gathered on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro to support former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused of plotting to overthrow his successor, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The rally called for amnesty for over 400 individuals convicted for their roles in the January 2023 riots, which targeted Brazil's presidential palace, Congress, and Supreme Court.
Bolsonaro, banned from public office until 2030, seeks to overturn the ruling and emulate former U.S. President Donald Trump's political comeback strategy.
Brazil's Supreme Court will decide on March 25 whether Bolsonaro and his allies will face trial for alleged coup-related crimes, including plans to poison Lula and assassinate a Supreme Court justice.
Analysts suggest the rally was a strategic attempt to demonstrate Bolsonaro's political influence, though turnout fell far short of the projected one million attendees.