In an unprecedented action, lawmakers from Brazil and the US unite against attacks on democracy
WBO Press release January 11 2023
Group made up of more than 60 congressional representatives and senators from both countries publish joint statement
Statement speaks of coordinated action among far-right groups in both countries and calls for accountability
A group of more than 60 US and Brazilian congressmen released a joint statement this Wednesday, January 11 in which they condemn “authoritarian, anti-democratic far right actors,” who act together to attack the democracies of Brazil and the United States. The Washington Brazil Office (WBO) was responsible for articulating the initiative among legislators from both countries.
In the joint statement, the group refers to the attacks on the Capitol in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021, and the assault on seat of the three branches of the Brazilian government in Brasília on January 8, 2023.
For the congressional representatives involved in the initiative, “it is no secret that far-right agitators in Brazil and the US are coordinating efforts”. An example of this are the meetings of Brazilian Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro with former advisers to Donald Trump, such as Jason Miller and Steve Bannon, who “encouraged Bolsonaro to contest the election results in Brazil.”
The signers of the statement recall that Bannon was convicted on two counts for refusing to collaborate with investigations into his relationship with extremist groups that invaded the U.S. Capitol. They also emphasize that “all those involved must be held accountable,” referring to the connections with coup supporters operating in Brazil as well.
The joint statement concludes by saying: “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 call.”
MEMBERS' NAMES IN US
1. Adam Schiff
2. Adriano Espaillat
3. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
4. Barbara Lee
5. Becca Balint
6. Bernie Sanders
7. Brad Sherman
8. Cori Bush
9. David Cicilline
10. Grace Meng
11. Greg Casar
12. Hank Johnson
13. Ilhan Omar
14. Jamaal Bowman
15. Jamie Raskin
16. Jan Schakowsky
17. Jesús "Chuy" Garcia
18. Jill Tokuda
19. Lloyd Doggett
20. Mark Takano
21. Maxwell Frost
22. Nikema Williams
23. Nydia Velazquez
24. Paul Tonko
25. Pramila Jayapal
26. Rashida Tlaib
27. Raúl Grijalva
28. Robert Garcia
29. Sara Jacobs
30. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick
31. Susan Wild
32. Sylvia R. Garcia
33. Troy A. Carter
34. Yvette D. Clarke
35. Zoe Lofgren
MEMBERS’ NAMES IN BRAZIL
1. Dep. Airton Faleiro (PT-PA)
2. Dep. Alessandro Molon (PSB-RJ)
3. Dep. André Janones (AVANTE-MG)
4. Dep. Áurea Carolina (PSOL-MG)
5. Dep. Benedita da Silva (PT-RJ)
6. Dep. Bira do Pindaré (PSB-MA)
7. Dep. Camilo Capiberibe (PSB-AP)
8. Dep. Célia Xakriabá (eleita) (PSOL-MG)
9. Dep. Chico Alencar (PSOL-RJ)
10. Dep. Dandara Tonantzin (PT-MG) (eleita)
11. Sen. Eliziane Gama (CIDADANIA-MA)
12. Dep. Érika Hilton (PSOL-SP) (eleita)
13. Dep. Erika Kokay (PT-DF)
14. Sen. Fabiano Contarato (PT-ES)
15. Dep. Fernanda Melchionna (PSOL-RS)
16. Dep. Gleisi Hoffmann (PT-PR)
17. Dep. Guilherme Boulos (PSOL-SP) (eleito)
18. Dep. Henrique Vieira (PSOL-RJ) (eleito)
19. Dep. Ivan Valente (PSOL-SP)
20. Dep. Jandira Feghali (PCdoB - RJ)
21. Sen. Jaques Wagner (PT-BA)
22. Dep. Joenia Wapichana (REDE-RR)
23. Dep. Lídice da Mata (PSB-BA)
24. Dep. Luciene Cavalcante (PSOL-SP) (eleita)
25. Dep. Luiza Erundina (PSOL-SP)
26. Dep. Luizianne Lins (PT-CE)
27. Dep. Maria do Rosário (PT-RS)
28. Dep. Nilto Tatto (PT-SP)
29. Sen. Randolfe Rodrigues (REDE-AP)
30. Dep. Reginaldo Lopes (PT-MG)
31. Dep. Ricardo Silva (PSD-SP)
32. Dep. Rodrigo Agostinho (PSB-SP)
33. Dep. Rui Falcão (PT-SP)
34. Dep. Sâmia Bomfim (PSOL-SP)
35. Dep. Tabata Amaral (PSB-SP)
36. Dep. Talíria Petrone (PSOL-RJ)
37. Dep. Tarcísio Motta (PSOL-RJ) (eleito)
38. Dep. Túlio Gadêlha (REDE-PE)
39. Dep. Vivi Reis (PSOL-PA)
THE ROLE OF THE WBO
The WBO acted to strengthen contacts between Brazilian and US congressional representatives that participated in this initiative. An on-going dialogue with congressional representatives and senators in the US and Brazilian congresses facilitated contacts and the possibility of organizing this initiative.
In July 2022, the WBO organized the visit of a group of representatives of 19 Brazilian civil society organizations to Washington. On the occasion, the group met with representatives of US State Department, as well as the offices of several congressional representatives and senators, including some who are now participating in this initiative.
The purpose of the July 2022 visit was to alert American policymakers about the risks to democracy in Brazil, in addition to asking them to publicly recognize the result of the October 30 election as legitimate, whatever the outcome.
One of the results of this work was the unanimous approval of a declaration by the US Senate asking President Joe Biden to break off relations with Brazil if Bolsonaro carried out a coup d'état. The motion was proposed by Senator Bernie Sanders, who also met with the delegation organized by the WBO in July.
“We will continue working to strengthen ties between the democratic political sectors of both countries to form an international front in defense of democracy,” said Paulo Abrão, executive director of the WBO.
"We hope that on Lula's visit to the United States, the issues of democracy and human rights will be at the center of discussions," said James N. Green, chairman of the WBO Board of Directors.
FULL DECLARATION
Joint statement: Brazilian and US lawmakers united against anti-democratic actions
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.
