People who supported or helped organize the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol are now voicing their approval of Sunday’s violent attack on Brazil’s Congress after they spent months boosting conspiracies about stolen elections in the South American country.
Former White house adviser Steve Bannon and Stop the Steal founder Ali Alexander were among the most prominent voices cheering on the thousands of people who attacked government buildings in Brazil, while QAnon supporters said they stood in solidarity with the Brazilian rioters while simultaneously spreading fresh conspiracies about who was behind the attack.
This is as the leaders of the US, Canada and Mexico slammed the attacks by supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on government buildings over the weekend, calling it an “attack” on Brazil’s democracy.
“Canada, Mexico, and the United States condemn the January 8 attacks on Brazil’s democracy and on the peaceful transfer of power,” the joint statement read.
Left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office at the beginning of the year after defeating Bolsonaro during the October elections. But supporters of Bolsonaro, and the former president himself, have claimed that the election was rigged and stolen.
The international community quickly condemned the attacks on Sunday, which saw thousands of protesters ransack the Brazilian presidential palace, Congress and Supreme Court.
The trio of the US, Canada and Mexico said they stand with Brazil “as it safeguards its democratic institutions.
“We look forward to working with President Lula on delivering for our countries, the Western Hemisphere, and beyond.”
On Sunday, the top US diplomat, Antony Blinken, said violence to attack democratic institutions was always unacceptable.
Some progressive Democrats have called for the US to extradite Bolsonaro, who is believed to be spending time in the state of Florida.
Even though former President Jair Bolsonaro has denounced the violence, and the attacks have led to mass arrests, Bannon posted multiple messages on the fringe, extremist platform Gettr to show his support for those involved.
“Brazilian Freedom Fighters,” Bannon wrote. “Lula stole the Election, Brazilians know that …Release the Machines.”
On Monday morning, Bannon continued to boost baseless conspiracies about stolen elections in Brazil. “The Brazilian people have yet to receive even one answer on the never ending questions surrounding the election—an election that ended in razor thin margins in a runoff …Release the Machines,” he wrote on Gettr.
Vice.com And Alarabiya
