AFL-CIO (EUA): Brazil’s former President Lula da Silva has been jailed in the southern city of Curitiba since April 7th

Since April 7, Brazil’s ex-president Lula has been jailed in a federal prison in the southern city of Curitiba. Since at least 2014, he has been the object of aggressive and illegal investigation tactics by a federal judge. In spite of the fact that the Brazilian constitution guarantees that everyone remains free until all appeals filed have been heard, the same judge who led the investigation and presided over the trial then ordered Lula’s arrest and detention.

Lula’s persecution, conviction and detention are more than a violation of his human rights. They are a bald political maneuver to prevent him from running for president in the October 2018 election. He has long led all polls taken on the upcoming election and we cannot allow him to be barred and Brazil to suffer another denial of democracy.

Given his innocence and the lack of any evidence, Lula turned himself in to the authorities in Curitiba. In Brazil and around the world union, human rights and democracy activists are mobilizing support for Lula and democracy in Brazil.

See the attached letter from the International Trade Union Confederation, ITUC.

Monday April 23rd
12Noon
Brazilian Consulate in Washington
1030 15th Street, N.W.
Washington D.C. 20005

Please bring your union banners and signs.

Circulate this email and details as widely as possible on e-mail and social media to friends and comrades.

From Lula’s words to his supporters after being imprisoned:

“I’m certain that it won’t be long before justice will be worth its name. That is, whomever committed crimes will be punished. And those who did not committ a crime will be absolved. I continue to challenge the Federal Police involved in the Car Wash (investigations), the Public Prosecution involved int he Car Wash(investigations), (judge Sergio) Moro and those involved in my second conviction to prove the crime that they allege that I committed.”