BREAKING: pro-#Bolsonaro rioters breach Congress, Supreme Court & Presidential Palace in 🇧🇷#Brazil.
Ex president promotes a stolen election lie & has been close to Trump.
He skipped inauguration of his predecessor & flew to Florida.
By: @peterbmillard
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
Ex president promotes a stolen election lie & has been close to Trump.
He skipped inauguration of his predecessor & flew to Florida.
By: @peterbmillard
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
2/ What does this remind you of?
🇧🇷#Brazil is yet more proof that the "stolen election" lie is poison for Democracy.
🇧🇷#Brazil is yet more proof that the "stolen election" lie is poison for Democracy.
3/ Appalling footage is surfacing of pro-#Bolsonaro rioters dragging and beating the police protecting 🇧🇷#Brazil's capitol.
This is very, very bad.
And looks extremely orchestrated.
This is very, very bad.
And looks extremely orchestrated.
5/ Unlike the #January6th insurrection, President #Lula has already been inaugurated.
Here was #Bolsonaro's tear-streaked & self-pitying final address before he headed to Florida last week.
Here was #Bolsonaro's tear-streaked & self-pitying final address before he headed to Florida last week.
6/Pro-#Bolsonaro rioters demanding "source code."
Incredibly familiar.
Notably, some of their banners are in English.
Interesting.
Who exactly has been advising #Brazil's ex-president?
Incredibly familiar.
Notably, some of their banners are in English.
Interesting.
Who exactly has been advising #Brazil's ex-president?
7/ Extreme-right playbook, 2020s edition:
Lose the election?
❌Claim it was stolen.
❌Cast doubt on the electoral process
❌Attack the institutions of democracy.
Social media plays a huge role in making this possible.
Lose the election?
❌Claim it was stolen.
❌Cast doubt on the electoral process
❌Attack the institutions of democracy.
Social media plays a huge role in making this possible.
8/ #Bolsonaro slinking away to Florida in weepy self-pity seemed odd.
Anyone know where he is this afternoon?
IF he's outside #Brazil, he has conveniently put distance between himself and & immediate legal consequences for whatever role he's just played in the #Brasilia siege.
Anyone know where he is this afternoon?
IF he's outside #Brazil, he has conveniently put distance between himself and & immediate legal consequences for whatever role he's just played in the #Brasilia siege.
9/ Remember, we know that Steve #Bannon & Jason Miller have been advising #Bolsonaro since he lost the election.
#Brazil
By @lizzadwoskin & @pessoagabi
washingtonpost.com/world/2022/11/…
#Brazil
By @lizzadwoskin & @pessoagabi
washingtonpost.com/world/2022/11/…
10/ English-language hashtags promoting the #Bolsonaro rioters now laying siege to #Brazil's Capitol #Brasilia are trending.
Again.
Just as they did right after the election.
Some rioters are carrying English language signs.
Again.
Again.
Just as they did right after the election.
Some rioters are carrying English language signs.
Again.
11/ The danger could not be more clear.
The global far right has a playbook & cast of strategists.
Many are 🇺🇸Americans.
They are the architects of our current political chaos.
And they will literally smash the institutions of democracy anywhere to get & hold power.
The global far right has a playbook & cast of strategists.
Many are 🇺🇸Americans.
They are the architects of our current political chaos.
And they will literally smash the institutions of democracy anywhere to get & hold power.
12/ Musk's takeover was a boon for right-wing Twitter in #Brazil.
#Bolsonaro called the acquisition a “breath of hope.”
This afternoon the platform is saturated with pro-insurrection content.
By @charlottepeet11
restofworld.org/2023/musk-twit…
#Bolsonaro called the acquisition a “breath of hope.”
This afternoon the platform is saturated with pro-insurrection content.
By @charlottepeet11
restofworld.org/2023/musk-twit…
13/ "It’s the start of a relationship which I’m sure will soon end in marriage" - #Bolsonaro on Musk.
It will be very interesting to see what comes next from the platform's CEO.
It will be very interesting to see what comes next from the platform's CEO.
14/ Note: deleted a tweet showing pro-#Bolsonaro rioters savagely attacking a police officer in #Brazil.
I'm lightly concerned Twitter's moderation approach will reflect Musk's political views on the matter & I want to make sure this thread stays live.
nypost.com/2022/11/01/elo…
I'm lightly concerned Twitter's moderation approach will reflect Musk's political views on the matter & I want to make sure this thread stays live.
nypost.com/2022/11/01/elo…
15/ Trump was conspicuously silent while his supporters did the worst of the #jan6Insurrection.
#Bolsonaro is similarly silent today.
Parallels everywhere.
#Bolsonaro is similarly silent today.
Parallels everywhere.
16/ Minister responsible for security in #Brasilia was staunch #Bolsonaro ally Anderson Torres.
Brazilian newspaper Estadão cites unnamed sources saying he recently travelled to Florida.
He was just dismissed with immediate effect👇
Source estadao.com.br/politica/colun…
Brazilian newspaper Estadão cites unnamed sources saying he recently travelled to Florida.
He was just dismissed with immediate effect👇
Source estadao.com.br/politica/colun…
18/ UPDATE: #Brazil's democratically-elected president #Lula orders security intervention to stop pro-#Bolsonaro siege of capitol #Brasilia.
19/ Democratically-elected President #Lula's address:
- Federal security intervention in #Brasilia
- Identified rioters will be punished
- Complicit Police & officials will be punished.
- Investigation will target financing for the siege
- Federal security intervention in #Brasilia
- Identified rioters will be punished
- Complicit Police & officials will be punished.
- Investigation will target financing for the siege
20/ NOW: Flashes & heavy crowd control gas clouds seen as authorities work to clear grounds #Brazil's National Congress building in #Brasilia.
21/ NOW: multiple government buildings including National Congress, Palace & Supreme Court cleared of pro-#Bolsonaro rioters.
Intense crowd control on the esplanade in front of National Congress in #Brasilia.
Still a large group remain in vicinity.
Reports of. 30 arrests.
Intense crowd control on the esplanade in front of National Congress in #Brasilia.
Still a large group remain in vicinity.
Reports of. 30 arrests.
22/ Arrest totals keep rising as night falls on the scene. 150 and counting per Globo.
Brazilian media commentators already talking about a failure of intelligence.
Large group of rioters currently remains West of the Palace of Justice.
Brazilian media commentators already talking about a failure of intelligence.
Large group of rioters currently remains West of the Palace of Justice.
24/ WATCH First footage of aftermath.
Journalist stunned when he gets inside #Brazil's Supreme Tribunal.
Absolutely wrecked, inside and out.
Like anti-democratic hurricane.
Journalist stunned when he gets inside #Brazil's Supreme Tribunal.
Absolutely wrecked, inside and out.
Like anti-democratic hurricane.
25/ #Brasilia is a UNESCO Heritage site & crown jewel of modernism.
Pro-#Bolsonaro rioters busted everything they could get their hands on.
Computers, furniture, cabinets, televisions. They even soaked carpets & antique furniture by smashing open fire sprinklers.
Pro-#Bolsonaro rioters busted everything they could get their hands on.
Computers, furniture, cabinets, televisions. They even soaked carpets & antique furniture by smashing open fire sprinklers.
26/ Elements among pro-#Bolsonaro rioters spotted yanking network cables from servers.
Interesting.
Voices suggest they may be disabling security camera systems.
Interesting.
Voices suggest they may be disabling security camera systems.
27/ Rioters sacked #Brazil's capitol for hours.
Condemnations from world leaders have poured in.
Meanwhile?
Complicit, cowardly silence from ex-president #Bolsonaro.
Condemnations from world leaders have poured in.
Meanwhile?
Complicit, cowardly silence from ex-president #Bolsonaro.
28/ "Bolsonarist radicalism can bring together thousands of coup supporters, but still it cannot take a country."
Analysis by André Petry tonight.
Original (pt-br): piaui.folha.uol.com.br/nunca-foi-tao-…
Analysis by André Petry tonight.
Original (pt-br): piaui.folha.uol.com.br/nunca-foi-tao-…
29/ They did resolve matters peacefully.
With a fair election.
The people you've gotten close to lost.
This is weak and fools nobody.
Since you arrived Twitter has been a launchpad for the lies that underpinned this attack on #Brazil's democracy.
With a fair election.
The people you've gotten close to lost.
This is weak and fools nobody.
Since you arrived Twitter has been a launchpad for the lies that underpinned this attack on #Brazil's democracy.
30/ Reminder: Musk's arrival at Twitter turbocharged #Brazil's far right.
Similar bumps did not happen on Instagram & Youtube during the same timeframe.
Report by @charlottepeet11 restofworld.org/2023/musk-twit…
Similar bumps did not happen on Instagram & Youtube during the same timeframe.
Report by @charlottepeet11 restofworld.org/2023/musk-twit…
31/ If he wants peace for Brazilians, Musk should encourage everyone to accept the results of democratic elections.
At this point, anything less is playing footsie with authoritarianism.
At this point, anything less is playing footsie with authoritarianism.
32/ #Brazil's AG Office requests pro-#Bolsonaro official in charge of security for the Federal District be arrested
Anderson Torres (@andersongtorres), perhaps not coincidentally, is currently in the United States. Like Bolsonaro.
oglobo.globo.com/politica/notic…
Anderson Torres (@andersongtorres), perhaps not coincidentally, is currently in the United States. Like Bolsonaro.
oglobo.globo.com/politica/notic…
33/ Claimed to be the original of Brazil's 1988 constitution.¹
Which ended 21 years of dictatorship.
Makes me sick to my stomach.
¹OSINT: Maybe? Same cover. Original kept in museum section of the Supreme Federal Tribunal. Which was attacked today.
Which ended 21 years of dictatorship.
Makes me sick to my stomach.
¹OSINT: Maybe? Same cover. Original kept in museum section of the Supreme Federal Tribunal. Which was attacked today.
34/ "I have always been within the four lines of the Constitution" - Bolsonaro
The ex-president waited till the attack failed & his supporters been arrested & kicked out by riot squads before delivering this weak & evasive statement.
So familiar.
The ex-president waited till the attack failed & his supporters been arrested & kicked out by riot squads before delivering this weak & evasive statement.
So familiar.
35/ Hashtag associated with #Bolsonaro supporters: "BrazilianSpring."
Very active today.
First, it's in English.
Second? Hard to imagine a Brazilian came up with the term...
Because it's the *middle of Brazil's scorching summer.*
Weird.
Very active today.
First, it's in English.
Second? Hard to imagine a Brazilian came up with the term...
Because it's the *middle of Brazil's scorching summer.*
Weird.
36/ Democratically-elected president @LulaOficial arrives.
"...The coup plotters who promoted the destruction of public property in Brasilia are being identified and will be punished. Tomorrow we resume work... Democracy always. Goodnight"
"...The coup plotters who promoted the destruction of public property in Brasilia are being identified and will be punished. Tomorrow we resume work... Democracy always. Goodnight"
https://twitter.com/LulaOficial/status/1612280715231612928
37/ Bannon spent today compulsively posting the mantra that #Brazil's election was stolen.
It wasn't. And he knows it.
He also called the rioters freedom fighters.
They aren't.
And he knows that, too.
It wasn't. And he knows it.
He also called the rioters freedom fighters.
They aren't.
And he knows that, too.
38/ January 3rd, Florida:
Supporters of ex-president #Bolsonaro who met him at beach club mansion say he told them that the "best is yet to come."
Supporters of ex-president #Bolsonaro who met him at beach club mansion say he told them that the "best is yet to come."
https://twitter.com/o_antagonista/status/1610387055724437506
39/ "I was surrounded, kicked, pushed, cursed. They broke my glasses, pulled my hair, tried to take my cell phone."
Just like on #Jan6 journalists were assaulted in #Brasilia.
h/t @tomphillipsin
Just like on #Jan6 journalists were assaulted in #Brasilia.
h/t @tomphillipsin
https://twitter.com/falamarina/status/1612282583462600704
40/#Brazil's Supreme Court orders immediate removal of #Brasilia's governor for 90 days.
Says attacks could have only happened w/official complicity.
Hours ago Gov @IbaneisOficial began a video with an apology to president #Lula.
Which was interesting.
g1.globo.com/politica/notic…
Says attacks could have only happened w/official complicity.
Hours ago Gov @IbaneisOficial began a video with an apology to president #Lula.
Which was interesting.
g1.globo.com/politica/notic…
41/ Musk fired Twitter's entire #Brazil staff, except for some salespeople.
Including everyone who worked on moderation of violence & misinformation.
By @lizzadwoskin
washingtonpost.com/technology/202…
Including everyone who worked on moderation of violence & misinformation.
By @lizzadwoskin
washingtonpost.com/technology/202…
42/ Pro-#Bolsonaro accounts used the code phrase (“Festa da Selma”) to organize & hype the assault on #Brazil's capitol today.
Some even shared maps.
Here are some examples from just one user.
Some even shared maps.
Here are some examples from just one user.
43/ The “Festa da Selma” code phrase saw a huge spike in the run-up to the attack in #Brasilia.
Over 10k accounts.
Pic: @arcelinobsilva (who posts in Portuguese) has been tracking the term.
Over 10k accounts.
Pic: @arcelinobsilva (who posts in Portuguese) has been tracking the term.
https://twitter.com/arcelinobsilva/status/1612269943885529089
44/Wild. It took me thirty seconds find scores of Twitter accounts telling everyone exactly where to go to attack #Brasilia.
This was in plain sight.
This was in plain sight.
46/ Another good follow, @msoares found accounts responding to coded tweets about the imminent #Brasilia siege tweeting questions like which "side" the military will be on during the attack.
Right. Out. In. The. Open.
Right. Out. In. The. Open.
https://twitter.com/msoares/status/1612255359573311489
47/ The sheer obviousness of tweets in the run-up is staggering.
Everything was spelled out in the thinnest of codes.
I think #Twitter was either willfully blind or utterly negligent as #Brazil careened towards an organized siege against the three branches of government.
Everything was spelled out in the thinnest of codes.
I think #Twitter was either willfully blind or utterly negligent as #Brazil careened towards an organized siege against the three branches of government.
48/ There appears to be a growing effort among #Bolsonaro supporters to construct a narrative that the ransacking was *actually* done by #Lula supporters / infiltrators.
Just like with the US insurrection on #Jan6.
Same. Playbook.
Just like with the US insurrection on #Jan6.
Same. Playbook.
49/ Just learned that @agenciapublica reported in November that Steve Bannon coined the term "BrazilianSpring."
Which went on to become a major trending topic on Brazilian Twitter.
h/t @barbaradosualdo
By @lauradscofield(in Portuguese): apublica.org/sentinela/2022…
Which went on to become a major trending topic on Brazilian Twitter.
h/t @barbaradosualdo
By @lauradscofield(in Portuguese): apublica.org/sentinela/2022…
50/ To cap off a wild 24h, #Brazil's ex-president #Bolsonaro just checked himself into a Florida hospital.
This would be a telenovela if it weren't so consequential.
scc10.com.br/saude/bolsonar…
This would be a telenovela if it weren't so consequential.
scc10.com.br/saude/bolsonar…
51/I've pointed to possible links to US-based folks like Bannon & #Jan6 parallels.
And Twitter's failures.
Investigations needed.
That said, Brazil has its own history w/dictators & coups.
Now it's stock-taking time & I recommend seeking out *Brazilian* experts & voices.
And Twitter's failures.
Investigations needed.
That said, Brazil has its own history w/dictators & coups.
Now it's stock-taking time & I recommend seeking out *Brazilian* experts & voices.
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