Brazil: Thousands On The Streets To Protest Jair Bolsonaro's Handling Of The Pandemic

Tens of thousands of people in Brazil staged another day of protest against President Jair Bolsonaro. The protests were held in particular for his chaotic handling of the pandemic, which has claimed more than 461,000 lives here. In downtown Rio de Janeiro, some 10,000 people wearing masks marched through the streets, with some chanting "Bolsonaro genocide" or "Go away Bolsovirus”. After the United States, Brazil has the world's second highest coronavirus death toll. At the outset of the pandemic, the far right Bolsonaro dismissed Covid-19 as "a little flu". And as the death toll has risen steadily, he has gone on to infuriate people in other ways, opposing stay-at-home measures & masks, touting ineffective medications, refusing offers of vaccines & failing to anticipate oxygen shortages that left patients to suffocate. Demonstrators also assailed Bolsonaro for allowing deforestation of the Amazon & land seizures from indigenous people & said he encourages violence & racism. Brasilia saw its largest rally since the start of the pandemic as people marched on Congress, where a senate commission is investigating Bolsonaro's handling of the health crisis.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 01, 2021 04:39 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).