Video of crowd at Brazil's National Congress pre-dates January 2023 attack on government buildings
Video of crowd at Brazil's National Congress pre-dates January 2023 attack on government buildings
(Web Desk) - A video clip showing throngs of people in front of the National Congress in Brasilia was not filmed on Jan. 8, 2023, when supporters of Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro stormed the country’s Congress, presidential palace and Supreme Court.
Social media users shared the video clip that shows thousands of people wearing Brazil-themed paraphernalia alongside claims suggesting it was filmed while Bolsonaro’s supporters ransacked parts of the country’s top government buildings this week.
The video clip pre-dates the protest on Jan. 8. A reverse image search reveals that the clip was uploaded to Twitter in September 2022.
The clip was filmed in the capital, Brasilia, along Esplanada dos Ministérios, geolocated.
Reuters did not find the source of the original clip, but a Twitter advanced search featuring this location revealed dozens of iterations of similar clips uploaded on Sept. 7, the country’s Independence Day.
Bolsonaro also made a speech at the Esplanada dos Ministérios in Brasilia on Sept. 7
The video was previously erroneously shared by users online following Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s presidential election victory in late October, with false claims that the clip showed protestors demonstrating against the election result.
VERDICT
Miscaptioned. The video clip has been online since at least September 2022.
When Brazilians see obvious election fraud, they protest and do something about it. They don’t just sit there and allow installed Presidents for fear of BLM and AntiFA threats! The cabal has underestimated the courage and backbone of the people of Brazil! pic.twitter.com/JqvC9RYnXL
— Liberals Leaving (@LiberalsLeaving) January 9, 2023
