TODAY marks two years since Dilma Rousseff’s removal as the president of Brazil, when 61 senators trampled upon the political will expressed at the ballot box by the 54 million Brazilians who had elected her. 

Since then, the illegitimate Michel Temer-led government has shown its true colours with hardline austerity policies.

Despite having no mandate, the government has reversed social programmes that took 40 million people out of poverty. 

Its policies have plunged the economy into deeper crisis, damaged public services, and hurt the living standards of millions.

This has been accompanied by the ongoing persecution of former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and an increase in violence and repression against trade unions, social movements and other progressive forces.

It is perhaps not surprising therefore that Temer’s approval ratings are in single figures. 

We stand with the millions of Brazilians resisting these ongoing attacks on democracy and social progress.

Yours,

Colin Burgon, honorary president, Labour Friends of Progressive Latin America

Chris Williamson, Labour MP for Derby North

Tariq Ali, writer and historian

Benjamin Zephaniah, poet    

Lowkey, rapper    

Victoria Brittain, journalist and writer

Andy de la Tour, actor and writer        

Rt Hon Baroness Jean Corston, Labour

Neil Findlay, Labour MSP for Lothian 

Lord Nicholas Rea, Labour

Tony Burke, assistant general secretary, Unite the Union

Steve Turner, assistant general secretary, Unite the Union

Kiri Tunks, president, National Education Union (NUT Section)

Doug Nicholls, general secretary, General Federation of Trade Unions

Manuel Cortes, general secretary, TSSA

Ronnie Draper, general secretary, BFAWU

Moz Greenshields, Trade Union Councils’ Joint Consultative Committee

Sean McGovern, TUC general council, Disabled workers’ representative    

Barbara White, Musicians Union executive Committee

Terry Hoad, former president, UCU

Steve Jones, national executive, CWU

Peter Purton, historian and former TUC LGBT officer

Zita Holbourne, national chair, Barac UK 

Lindsey German, convener, Stop the War Coalition

Sue Branford, editor, Latin America Bureau

Ken Livingstone, former mayor of London

John Haylett, political editor, Morning Star

Bob Oram, chair, Peoples Press Printing Society

Dr Michael Derham, senior lecturer, Northumbria University

Dr Francisco Dominguez, head of Latin American Studies, Middlesex University

Prof John Gledhill, emeritus professor, University of Manchester

Dr Peter Hallward, Kingston University

Dr Hazel Marsh, senior lecturer, University of East Anglia 

Dr Marina Prentoulis, University of East Anglia

Prof David Raby, emeritus professor, University of Liverpool

Prof Jonathan Rosenhead, emeritus professor, LSE    

Rachel Garnham, Labour NEC member        

Peter Willsman, CLDP and Labour NEC member

Georgia Platman, former teleSUR journalist

Jane Shallice, writer and activist

Judith Amanthis, writer and author

Jeni Vine, filmmaker

Maggie Bowden, general secretary, Liberation (formerly the Movement for Colonial Freedom)

Susan Grey, Venezuela Solidarity Campaign

Louise Richards, Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign Action Group        

Rob Miller, director, Cuba Solidarity Campaign

Luke Daniels, president, Caribbean Labour Solidarity

Pablo Navarrete, Alborada

Matt Willgress, editor, No Coup in Brazil