Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro Addresses Thousands at Independence Day Rally

Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro addressed thousands of supporters in Brasilia on September 7, as the country marked its 199th Independence Day.

Video posted by Bolsonaro to his Facebook page shows the president speaking to a huge crowd gathered beside the country’s national congress in the nation’s capital.

Local media reported Bolsonaro indirectly criticized members of the Supreme Federal Court as well as the recent arrest of some conservatives in his speech.

Bolsonaro also participated in a flag-raising ceremony in front of the Alvorada Palace in Brasília before he was scheduled to address another mass gathering, in São Paulo, on Tuesday.

Demonstrations were expected to be held in smaller cities and towns across the country, while anti-government protests were also expected to take place. ​ Credit: Jair Bolsonaro via Storyful