Tarcísio de Freitas criticizes vandalism at pro-Lula protest

São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas has criticized acts of vandalism and property damage reported during a pro-Lula demonstration on Avenida Paulista. In a video released on social media, de Freitas compared the event to previous right-wing protests, which he characterized as peaceful, and accused the Workers' Party (PT) of engaging in depredation, graffiti, and intolerance.

The controversy intensified following reports that de Freitas used a manipulated video in his critique. The video included an image of a young woman appearing to use drugs, which fact-checkers and the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) identified as an old, out-of-context clip that had been circulating online for days prior to the event. The TSE ordered the removal of the video, citing “grave manipulation by decontextualization.”

While the Governor seeks legal action to hold those responsible for damages to Metro stations accountable, critics and officials like Guilherme Boulos have challenged the Governor's narrative. Some reports highlighted that the Governor's video omitted reports of police gunfire during the event. The incident underscores the deep political polarization in Brazil following the recent elections.