Seven activists from people’s movements are staging a hunger strike since Jul. 31 in Brasília, the capital city of Brazil, demanding Supreme Court chief justice Cármen Lúcia place on the docket a petition – called ADC 54 – that questions the legality of imprisoning defendants after their conviction is upheld by an appeals court, but while their cases are still appealable in higher courts.
A rule on the ADC could free former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who has been in prison since April, as well as other thousands of Brazilians who are imprisoned even though their conviction is not final, that is, while they can still file appeals with higher courts – the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) and the Supreme Court (STF).
João Pedro Stedile, from the national board of the Landless Workers’ Movement (MST), spoke with Brasil de Fato about today’s political scenario in Brazil, reiterating how necessary it is for the people to pressure the Supreme Court to review the ADC.
Click the CC button in the player’s bottom toolbar for English subtitles and watch the full interview below:
