Supporters of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro have a dress code – especially on game day. Members of the 140,000-plus crowd who filled – or tried to fill – the Esplanade of Ministries, in central Brasília, on September 7 were mostly bedecked in yellow, green, and blue. Accepted deviations include black and white, or military-style camouflage. T-shirts and headbands were emblazoned with pro-Bolsonaro slogans, most of them referencing the 2022 election, their “undying support” for him, or featured guns. Lots and lots of guns.
Protests always have uniforms. They signal a shared sense of purpose. This time around, though, it bordered on war paint, as supporters displayed slogans like “free Brazil or die for the fatherland,” “kill or be killed for Jair Bolsonaro,” or “out with the communists.”
Accompanying their combative, martial, and patriotic declarations, Bolsonaro supporters wore the Brazilian flag (either the current version or the 19th-century Imperial one) as Superman capes or draped it over their cars’ hoods. Evangelical Christians who support Mr. Bolsonaro also hoisted the Israeli flag...
Search
