There were chaotic scenes in Brazil on Sunday as supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro took over Congress and other government buildings.
In Brazil's election in October, a far-right leader lost to a left-winger who had previously served as president of the country.
Thousands of demonstrators who claim the election was stolen descended on Brazil's Congress, Supreme Court, and presidential palace, smashing through security barricades, breaking windows, and entering the buildings.
—Nathália Urban (@UrbanNathalia) January 8, 2023
—The Brazilian Report (@BrazilianReport) January 8, 2023
The people need to be punished for what they did.
It was almost inevitable that Americans watching the unrest unfold would feel a sense of deja-vu.
Two years have passed since a mob of Trump's supporters attacked the US Capitol building, assault police officers, smashing and climbing through windows, and forcing lawmakers to leave while they were certifying Joe Biden's election win.
There was a parallel between what was happening in Brazil and what was happening in the Democrats' house.
Hakeem Jeffries said that the attack on the Brazilian government by right-wing extremists is sad but familiar.
—ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) January 8, 2023
—POPULAR FRONT (@PopularFront_) January 8, 2023
Trump refused to accept the result of the election. He told his supporters not to accept the result and to go to the Capitol to fight. Over one thousand people have been charged since the attack, including for assault, disorderly conduct, and obstructing law enforcement.
The people who invaded Brazil's government buildings will be punished, according to Lula. The government buildings were ordered to be closed for a day while police worked to secure the area. The people were arrested in Brazil.
The similarities between Sunday's events and January 6 weren't completely surprising. "Make Brazil great again" was the slogan Bolsonaro used when he ran for president.
Even though the Brazilian president was facing criminal charges and was accused by international watchdog groups of threatening his country's democracy and violating free speech principles, Trump continued to praise him. He said he wouldn't accept a loss before he was elected. He didn't publicly acknowledge the victory of Lula after he lost.
The Washington Post reported at the time that Bolsonaro's allies met with some of Trump's advisers to discuss how to deal with the loss.
Bolsonaro left the country two days before the inauguration of his predecessor in order to be in Florida. Trump flew to Mar-a-Lago as Biden was taking the oath of office.
Bolsonaro should be extradited back to Brazil, where he is facing several investigations, if Democrats are to be believed.
"destruction and invasions of public buildings, like what occurred today, were not included in the definition of a peaceful protest as long as it was part of democracy," Bolsonaro wrote on Sunday night.
There was no proof that he was responsible for the riots.
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