January 10, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C. /BRASÍLIA—Today, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07) joined over 70 elected officials from both the United States and Brazil in a joint statement condemning the recent insurrections in their countries and the coordination between far-right agitators. He was joined by Sen. Bernard Sanders, and Reps. Ilhan Omar, Becca Balint, Jamaal Bowman, Cori Bush, Troy A. Carter, Greg Casar, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, David Ciccilline, Yvette D. Clarke, Lloyd Doggett, Adriano Espaillat, Maxwell Frost, Sylvia R. Garcia, Robert Garcia, Jesús G. Chuy García, Sara Jacobs, Pramila Jayapal, Hank Johnson, Barbara Lee, Zoe Lofgren, Grace Meng, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mark Pocan, Jamie Raskin, Jan Schakowsky, Adam Schiff, Brad Sherman, Mark Takano, Rashida Tlaib, Jill Tokuda, Paul Tonko, Nydia Velazquez, Susan Wild, and Nikema Williams in the United States, along with Rodrigo Agostinho, Chico Alencar, Tabata Amaral, Sâmia Bomfim, Guilherme Boulos, Camilo Capiberibe, Áurea Carolina, Luciene Cavalcante, Fabiano Contarato, Luiza Erundina, Rui Falcão, Airton Faleiro, Jandira Feghali, Érika Hilton, Gleisi Hoffmann, André Janones, Erika Kokay, Reginaldo Lopes, Lídice da Mata, Fernanda Melchionna, Alessandro Molon, Bira do Pindaré, Vivi Reis, Randolfe Rodrigues, Maria do Rosário, Benedita da Silva, Nilto Tatto, Dandara Tonantzin, Ivan Valente, Henrique Vieira, Jaques Wagner, Joenia Wapichana, and Célia Xakriabá in Brazil.
“As lawmakers in Brazil and the United States, we stand united against the efforts by authoritarian, anti-democratic far-right actors to overturn legitimate election results and overthrow our democracies, including the recent January 8, 2023 attacks on the Brazilian presidential palace, Congress and Supreme Court as well as the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
“It is no secret that ultra-right agitators in Brazil and the United States are coordinating efforts. In the wake of the October 30th Brazilian elections, Brazilian Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro met directly with former President Trump, along with former Trump aides Jason Miller and Steve Bannon, who encouraged Bolsonaro to contest the election results in Brazil. Bannon was recently convicted of two criminal charges for failing to comply with a subpoena for his role in the January 6th insurrection. Soon after the meetings, Bolsonaro’s party sought to invalidate thousands of votes. All involved must be held accountable.
“Democracies rely on the peaceful transfer of power. Just as far-right extremists are coordinating their efforts to undermine democracy, we must stand united in our efforts to protect it. In order to save democracy in our two countries and around the world, we urge all elected officials in our two countries, regardless of party, to join our calls.”