Riocentro concert, Arcos da Lapa concert: the rich lost out.
The "Free Lula" show at Arcos da Lapa this Saturday in Rio evokes in every way another show, the one at Riocentro in 1981, against the dictatorship, writes Mauro Lopes, editor of 247; the best of the country in the 1980s gathered for the return of democracy; the best of the country now gathers around the great Brazilian leader.
What we witnessed on Saturday night at the Arcos da Lapa in Rio was historic. We breathed in an atmosphere reminiscent of the 1980s, in the dying days of the dictatorship, relaunched into postmodernity. It was impossible not to recall the Riocentro show in 1981.
This time there were no bombs, but history repeated itself as a comedy, with some thugs in lab coats from the Rio Regional Electoral Court tearing down banners and pamphlets. Very symbolic: in 1981, the military tried to end the show; this time, it was the long arm of the Judiciary. The main vectors of the coups, that of 1964 (the military) and that of 2016 (the Judiciary), trying to intimidate the people.
They couldn't; they won't succeed.
What did we see yesterday?
Everything that is best in the country gathered around Brazil's great leader.
Something strange to the Brazilian elites: everything for free, no money, no schemes.
What happened to the claim that Lula was imprisoned for the crime of "corruption"? It's in tatters.
In Brazil and around the world, it is clear that he is a political prisoner.
How was this awareness built? It was the democratic resistance, under the firm leadership of the PT (Workers' Party), that built the clear recognition that Lula is the great hope of the people and, precisely for that reason, was made a political prisoner.
The Brazilian people love Lula.
Shut up, rich people. You've already lost.
* This is an opinion article, the responsibility of the author, and does not reflect the opinion of Brasil 247.