Times Activists Made Their Voices Heard in 2016

Anti-Government Protests in Brazil

Protests and Brazilian Federal Police Investigations of government corruption from 2015 carried over into 2016 in Brazil, denouncing the government of President Dilma Rousseff. The protests were sparked by the revelations that politicians in the highest positions of government were accepting illegal bribes from Petrobras, a state-owned energy company. President Rousseff’s predecessor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, also landed himself in hot water with citizens of Brazil when allegations arose that he participated in money laundering, while Brazil’s economy suffered. His home was raided by Federal Police and faces ten years in prison if convicted.

Over 7 million citizens demonstrated on March 13th, and another 696,000 on April 12th. The activists were successful in getting their voices heard, and the Senate of Brazil impeached President Rousseffon August 31st.