Thousands in brazil protest against President Jair Bolsonaro over COVID-19 pandemic handling

Thousands of people gathered in atleast 13 state capitals to demonstrate against Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic situation and called for impeachment.

Rio de Janeiro: Protesters took to the streets in Brazil on Saturday (July 3) demanding the impeachment of President Jair Bolsonaro and more vaccines to fight the coronavirus pandemic, as the country faces the world`s second-deadliest outbreak after the United States. On Friday (July 2), Supreme Court Justice Rosa Weber authorized the opening of an investigation into Bolsonaro over alleged irregularities in the procurement of vaccines developed in India.

The protests were originally scheduled for July 24, but were brought forward after evidence of irregularities related to that vaccine deal were presented before a Senate committee investigating the federal government`s handling of the pandemic. Brazil`s COVID-19 crisis has been compounded by a slow vaccine rollout.

"It was not denialism, it was corruption," said a banner held by 71-year-old Marilda Barroso in Rio de Janeiro. By 2 p.m. local time, protests had drawn thousands of people in at least 13 state capitals, according to local media reports. Demonstrations were scheduled to take place in 315 Brazilian cities and in 15 countries, local media reported citing the organizers of the acts.

More protests were scheduled to take place in the afternoon, including in Brazil`s biggest city of São Paulo.