Staff of Estadão Newspaper Attacked by Bolsonaro Supporters

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Photographer Dida Sampaio was taking pictures of the President standing in front of the access ramp to the Planalto Palace, on the Ministries Esplanade, within a restricted area for the press when he was assaulted.

Sampaio was using a small ladder to take pictures when he was pushed twice by demonstrators, who then kicked and punched him. The newspaper’s driver, Marcos Pereira, who was backing the reporting team, was also attacked. The protesters shouted slogans like “Estadão, out”.

The two were forced to quickly leave the place for a safe area and sought the support of the State Police (PM), who escorted them out. Folha de S.Paulo reporter Fabio Pupo was also pushed when trying to defend the Estado photographer. Estado reporters Júlia Lindner and André Borges, who were also following the demonstration for Estadão, were insulted, despite not being physically attacked.

Thousands of people gathered at the Ministries Esplanade summoned to a rally encouraged by the President. This took place after ex-Minister Sérgio Moro testified in the inquiry opened by the Federal Supreme Court (STF) to investigate his accusation that President Bolsonaro used his position to try to gain access to confidential investigations conducted by the Federal Police.

Bolsonaro disrespected all public health rules when taking part in the rally. Without a mask, he descended the Planalto ramp and went around the whole fence. The disregard for the safety measures in place due to the novel coronavirus is widespread among the President’s supporters. Like the president, most of the population do not wear masks.

Among the cries against Maia and STF justices, demonstrators also stood against the press. At one point, part of the crowd began to shout “Globo is garbage” and started for the press.

At that moment, a few meters away, President Jair Bolsonaro was notified by an aide that TV Globo professionals were being kicked out. In light of the information, Bolsonaro did not reprimand the action, but rather criticized the station himself. “Globo people come here to try and film a guy or two talking crap. This TV station has really gone too far,” he said during a live broadcast on social media.

Winner of two Esso and three Vladimir Herzog awards, Dida Sampaio has worked at Estadão since 1994.

From the very same spot in Three Powers Plaza outside the Planalto Palace where he was attacked by Bolsonarists, he has photographed the traditional ascents up the ramp of elected presidents – Fernando Collor (1990), Fernando Henrique (1995 and 1999), Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (2003 and 2007), Dilma Rousseff (2011 and 2015) and Jair Bolsonaro (2019) – and international visitors such as Bill Clinton (1997), Nelson Mandela (1998), Pope John Paul II (1991) and Barak Obama (2011).

Source: O Estado de S. Paulo