Activists begin hunger strike and demand that the Supreme Court release Lula.
In a press conference held this Monday afternoon (30) in Brasília (DF), six activists from popular movements from different parts of the country announced that they will begin a hunger strike at 16 pm this Tuesday (31); "It is a strike that has no end date. It is not just a one or two day fast. This implies a more serious, grave decision, and few people have the courage to make this decision," said João Pedro Stédile, a member of the coordination of the Popular Brazil front.
Forum Magazine - In a press conference held this Monday afternoon (30) in Brasília (DF), six activists from popular movements from different parts of the country announced that they will begin a hunger strike at 16 pm this Tuesday (31). The extreme protest aims to pressure the Supreme Federal Court (STF) ministers to decide in favor of releasing former president Lula and allowing the PT member to run for president in this year's elections.
"This is a strike with no end date. It's not just a one- or two-day fast. This implies a more serious, grave decision, and few people have the courage to make that decision," said João Pedro Stédile, a member of the coordination of the Popular Brazil Front (FPB), before beginning to announce the strikers.
According to Stédile, the hunger strike is part of a series of mobilizations by popular movements planned for August. Among the activities is the arrival of a caravan of movements from the semi-arid region that left Pernambuco last week for Curitiba, where they will attempt to visit former President Lula between August 4th and 5th. The large march of peasants aims to denounce the return of hunger and misery in the country. The coordinator of the Popular Brazil Front also announced a large political event in Brasília on August 15th, when the PT will register Lula's candidacy for president.
Among the activists who will go on hunger strike, the first to speak out was Frei Sérgio, who works with the Small Farmers Movement (MPA).
"Hunger is returning. That's why we are taking this gesture of peace today, starting a hunger strike tomorrow at 4 pm. The end of this hunger strike will be up to the ministers of the Supreme Federal Court. And none of us are suicidal, we love life and want to live. Now, after a few days of fasting, if something serious happens to one of us, there are guilty parties and those responsible," he stated, citing Judge Sérgio Moro and the judges of the TRF16 responsible for convicting Lula in the second instance and increasing his sentence.
"But the main people responsible, those who hold the pen, the power, to prevent the suffering of the people, are Luiz Edson Fachin, Cármen Lúcia, Luiz Roberto Barroso, Luiz Fux, Rosa Weber, and Alexandre de Moraes. We hold these six accountable," he added, referring to the ministers who voted against the appeal filed by Lula's defense in the Supreme Court.
In addition to Frei Sérgio, from the Small Farmers Movement, activists from the MST (Landless Workers' Movement) and the Central of Popular Movements (CMP) will also join the hunger strike.
Public fasts
In addition to the hunger strike by the six activists, João Pedro Stédile also announced that popular movements will encourage the population and other activists to publicly fast in their states on the 4th, when the PT (Workers' Party) is expected to officially nominate Lula for president at its national convention. The idea is that those who participate in the fast will donate the food they will not consume that day to the poorest families in their communities in Lula's name.
Watch the full press conference about the hunger strike below: