Photo credit: www.bbc.com
Brazil Supreme Court Sentences Woman for Graffiti During Brasilia Riots
A woman in Brazil has received a 14-year prison sentence after she inscribed a derogatory message in lipstick on a statue during riots in Brasilia.
Debora Rodrigues participated in the disturbances that occurred in January 2023, alongside numerous supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro.
This riot involved thousands of Bolsonaro’s followers storming government buildings following his electoral defeat the previous year.
Justice Cristiano Zanin, a member of the five-judge panel overseeing Rodrigues’s case, highlighted that her prosecution extended beyond the graffiti act itself; she was convicted of several offenses.
Rodrigues’s arrest was part of a wider investigation into an alleged coup against President Lula da Silva, who had recently taken office.
She was found guilty of various allegations, including property destruction, membership in a criminal organization, and involvement in an attempted coup.
The 39-year-old hairdresser expressed remorse for writing “You lost, idiot” on the statue of Justice situated outside the Supreme Federal Court—an incident subsequently labeled the “lipstick coup.”
Rodrigues contends that she did not participate in any acts of violence.
In prior court statements, she portrayed herself as “a good citizen,” declaring, “I went to the protests and I didn’t imagine they would become so tumultuous. I have never done anything illegal in my life.”
Her defense team indicated that she did not enter any government buildings during the unrest and suggested her actions were impulsive, resulting from the charged atmosphere of the moment. She has since expressed regret about her behavior.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who presided over the case, contended that Rodrigues “consciously and willingly” aligned herself with the demonstrators aiming to destabilize the government. He noted that Rodrigues admitted to participating in anti-democratic actions during her police testimony, and discrepancies in her text messages suggested efforts to conceal incriminating evidence.
This case has galvanized Bolsonaro’s supporters, who perceive Rodrigues as a target of political repression and contend that the Supreme Court has become overly powerful and partisan.
In February, a video featuring Rodrigues gained significant traction on social media. The following month, Bolsonaro himself shared a post about her on X, advocating for an amnesty for those involved in the civil unrest of 2023.
In addition to these developments, Bolsonaro faces criminal charges related to the alleged coup attempt, with a potential sentence exceeding 40 years if found guilty.
Source
www.bbc.com