WORKERS, RIGHT-WING SUPPORTERS, VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE, AND COVID-19: WHO PROTESTED DURING THE PANDEMIC IN BRAZIL?

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic challenges us to understand the actions of civil society and the role of protests in “turbulent contexts,” marked by uncertainty, disputes over interpretations of what is at stake, and potential changes in the ways of protesting. In Brazil, when the health crisis emerged, civil society had already been undergoing transformations, and the political scenario was compounded by a denialist government. This text looks at this scenario from the standpoint of protest events from 2020-2021, with data covering Brazil’s five regions, particularly social groups and their demands. Among the research findings are the strength of the workers’ protests, the expected growth of the right, the relevance of the local action of victims and their relatives, and the struggle against injustices and racism in the period.

Keywords:
protests; pandemic; social movements; right wing; racism