Brazilian students in Rio de Janeiro march against the prospect of another Bolsonaro presidency

Thousands of Brazilian students marched in downtown Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday (October 7, 2026) to protest against the possibility of Flávio Bolsonaro winning the presidency , after the far-right candidate received more votes than incumbent and left-leaning Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the first round of Brazil’s presidential election.

A sea of red-clad demonstrators made their way between two historical squares in Rio’s center, chanting and holding signs referencing Brazil’s sovereignty and democracy in the South American country, which they said were under threat.

“We’re fighting for Brazil, not for Lula,” said Talita Amaral, a 19-year-old environmental science student at a nearby university. She was wearing Brazil’s yellow and green soccer jersey, often worn by supporters of Bolsonaro, which she said was a gesture aimed at reclaiming the national colors.