Brazil: Thousands March to Support Lula's Candidacy

Participants in the Free Lula March, which journeyed for over 50 kilometers, arrived in the Brasilia, Brazil's capital city Tuesday. The participants will take part in a series of marches at the Supreme Electoral Court (TSE) to support former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's presidential candidacy and to demand his freedom.

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Tuesday marked the fourth day of the over five thousand person-strong protest, which includes members of the Rural Landless Workers Movement (MST) and several other groups. The protesters have planned to camp outside the TSE, which will hear a case supporting Lula's candidacy on August 15th, at 16:00. 

Workers Party (PT), president Gleisi Hoffmann, has said any move to disqualify Lula is anti-democratic and would impede Brazil's stabilization. She said the PT will fight "until the end" to ensure the former President is registered since it represents what "the Brazilian people want."

The MST and other social movements also want to demonstrate their rejection of the neoliberal and austerity policies implemented by the government of President Michel Temer. Several political, academic and cultural activities will also take place until the 15th, such as concerts, talks, and demonstrations.

Former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is leading in the polls, announced that he would formally register as the Workers Party (PT) presidential candidate Tuesday, one day before the August 15 deadline. "They will not shut me up," began a letter written by Lula, who is being held in the Curitiba prison since early April. "I want to send you a message: yes, I am a candidate for president of the republic," Lula wrote in his communique read on a radio program on Monday.