A large demonstration of university, high school, and even grade school students has been called for noon tomorrow, Oct. 7, in Rio de Janeiro, to mobilize to ensure that President Lula da Silva wins the second round of the Brazilian presidential elections, scheduled for Oct. 25. Lula came in a close second to neo-con and Wall Street favorite Flávio Bolsonaro in the first round on Oct. 4. Lula had 45% to Flávio’s 47% of valid votes cast.
But there was also over 20% abstentionism [Note: Voting is mandatory in Brazil—ed.], and Lula’s team is mobilizing to overcome the wave of disappointment and frustration in its base after the first round, to get out the vote. Brazilian students and other youth are playing a crucial role in that operation. For example, in the city of Niteroi (across the bay from Rio), Toda Palavra reported:
“The movement, organized mainly by students of the Fluminense Federal University, injected optimism into supporters of President Lula, who are frustrated over the unexpected defeat of the PT candidate…. The joy of the students, besides infecting part of the militants who were downcast after the electoral results, sent a clear message to the other side in the second-round contests: ‘We are going to fight to the finish.’”
Student leaders are organizing a “massive student demonstration” Rio-wide for Oct. 7, starting at noon. Indicative is a very feisty Instagram post by Marina, a young woman who heads the Rio de Janeiro Student Association: “We call on all high school, vocational school, and elementary school students to join us this Wednesday, October 7! We’ve been suffering from attacks by the political establishment and the far right in our daily lives for a long time now, so we have no time to waste being afraid! On the 7th, the streets will be our classroom to reaffirm that education won’t be shut down by fascists, imperialists, and the right wing!” She added: “We must mobilize in the streets, make people aware of what’s going on. Brazil is not the backyard of any imperialist, of any Trump!”
A call by university graduate students is also circulating widely: “Our lives are at stake! The second round of the elections will be decisive for the country’s future, and the graduate student community must mobilize, participate in the public debate, and organize in defense of science, education, democracy, and the recognition of those who produce knowledge in Brazil…. Build a major national mobilization leading up to Election Day. We need people willing to help organize universities, graduate programs, cities, and states; participate in activities; and help grow this debate on social media.”
The message concluded: “Let’s take the public debate by storm and make sure Brazilian science is heard in this runoff election. We need to prevent what could be THE GREATEST BLACKOUT OF SCIENCE the country has ever experienced.”
Various kinds of youth protests and marches are already being planned in more than 10 Brazilian states.
