Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, the leftist president of Brazil, encountered a loud assembly of protesters outside a hotel in New York City on Sunday, where they expressed their disdain for him and called for his arrest.
Lula is in New York to participate in a “high-level discussion” for the UN General Assembly, a gathering where global leaders convene to tackle pressing issues. Brazil, following a post-World War II tradition, was the first to address the assembly, with the United States following.
The current socialist leader, in his third term, has faced criticism for both domestic and international policies, leading to strained relations with the U.S. The administration of former President Donald Trump had openly criticized Lula, especially regarding the country’s Supreme Court (STF) and its actions against conservative figures. Trump condemned Lula for a lawsuit brought against former president Jair Bolsonaro, accusing him of various offenses, including undermining democracy and violating COVID-19 protocols.
In mid-September, the STF dealt a blow to Bolsonaro, sentencing him to prison for 27 years and barring him from public office for another eight years.
After Lula’s second term, he faced legal challenges stemming from investigations in Curitiba, which revealed he allegedly accepted kickbacks to fund a lavish beachfront property. In 2019, he received a hefty sentence for suspected corruption, but procedural errors led the STF to annul the conviction, letting him return to politics, albeit without any solid evidence clearing him of the accusations.
Recent protests in New York saw Lula confronted with chants of “Lula, thief, your place is prison,” highlighting his contentious past. Videos from the scene, shared by Brazilian media, showed a small faction of detractors outfitted in Brazilian sports jerseys, typically seen at conservative rallies, alongside a few supporters waving flags representing Lula’s Workers’ Party (PT).
Protesters also screamed terms like “terrorist” and “communist” in Portuguese.
Various Brazilian news outlets reported that Lula mostly interacted with a limited number of journalists and supporters, often just waving. Initially, the protest crowd was around 20 strong, but U.S. Secret Service personnel moved them back due to security concerns.
A few supporters were also relocated across the street during this encounter.
Reflecting on previous visits, this was Lula’s first speech at the General Assembly in his third term, and it came after a divisive 2022 election against Bolsonaro. Many Bolsonaro supporters raised questions regarding the election’s fairness, especially after Brazil’s electoral oversight body prohibited the media from discussing Lula’s prior corruption conviction while allowing Bolsonaro to make disparaging remarks about him.
Protesters in 2023 amplified their criticisms, labeling Lula as a “drunk,” “communist,” and more.
Brazilian Americans have generally supported Trump’s opposition to Lula’s policies. During a presidential campaign moment, a Brazilian customer implored Trump not to let the U.S. emulate Brazil, to which Trump responded affirmatively about improving conditions.
Trump has remained resolute against Lula. In July, he issued an executive order declaring Lula a “national security threat,” signaling a significant rift between Washington and Brasilia. This order endorsed STF judge Alexandre de Moraes, who placed a substantial tariff on Brazilian imports and took measures against perceived conservative misinformation.
Lula arrived at the UN aiming to promote his agenda, focusing on climate issues, nationalism, and condemning tariffs. He is expected to voice support for opposition against Israel’s actions against Hamas and call for broader international cooperation.
