Two Brazilian journalists who work for the British network BBC were harassed this Sunday (18) by supporters of Jair Bolsonaro (PL) during the president’s visit to London.
Bolsonaro traveled to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Before, however, he gathered dozens of supporters close to where he stayed, at the home of the Brazilian ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Journalists LaÃs Alegretti and Giovanni Bello, who covered the visit, were approached while they were working. “I don’t know what you’re doing here. You’re not welcome,” says one.
Another asks Bello, who works as a cameraman, what his name is. When the journalist declines, he listens in response. “That means he’s not committing to the truth.”
Alegretti, sitting on the sidewalk, replies that she was just doing her job. “I’m also doing mine. I’m just here to show the truth”, says one of the Bolsonaristas. Another shouts: “BBC fake news!”
THE Sheet contacted the BBC in search of a position on the episode, but still got no response.
This Monday (19), supporters of the president confronted an English citizen who defended the right to free expression in the British capital. The episode began when a Brazilian opposed the group and shouted “myth is Jesus”. Supporters of the president reacted with phrases such as “PT thief”, “go to Cuba” and “go to Venezuela” and surrounded the man.
The retired Englishman Chris Harvey observed the scene and came to the defense of the Brazilian contrary to President Jair Bolsonaro. According to him, once in the United Kingdom, the harassed man had every right to protest without feeling threatened by others. “People need to be respectful; the queen’s funeral has just taken place.”
Harvey was also surrounded by Bolsonaristas, who began to question whether he had ever been to Brazil to give his opinion on the subject and shouted “Globo trash” several times.
Bolsonaro has been promoting small acts with supporters since he arrived in London on Sunday morning. On occasions, he criticized his main opponent in the presidential election, former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), and the Federal Supreme Court (STF).
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