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A8 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 26 February 2020
Brazilian politicians avoid Carnival as they become targets

By ANNA JEAN KAISER and more critical," said Igor
Associated Press Capanema, a participant
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — At in the parade Monday
Rio's annual Carnival cel- night.
ebration Monday night, "The schools are going
comedian and composer more in a direction for us to
Marcelo Adnet stood atop make these important criti-
a float for the Sao Clem- cisms about what we are
ente samba school dressed living, where we are living,
in a sequin suit imitating why we're living this and
Brazil's far-right president. who we're talking about."
He mimicked Jair Bolson- Rio's Sambadrome was
aro's signature finger-gun inaugurated in 1984, at a
gesture while dancers sur- time Brazil's military dicta-
rounded him holding pick- torship was nearing its end.
et signs making fun of some At first local politicians were
of the president's quotes, the only ones attending.
including his accusation But it all changed in 1994
that actor and activist when President Itamar
Leonardo DiCaprio was re- Franco, who had inherited
sponsible for the Amazon the presidency with the im-
fires in 2019. peachment of Fernando
The previous night, the Collor, decided to go to
Mangueira samba school Performers from the Sao Clemente samba school parade on a float during Carnival celebrations the Sambadrome to add a
also took a jab at Bolson- at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Associated Press popular touch to his quiet
aro, for his advocacy for persona.
looser gun laws. Instead, he was posting lasted decades with impor- ing Brazil's largest cultural
Part of the lyrics of their videos of him at the beach tant revelers from both the show. Continued on Page 12
samba song rang out, "No and sharing some of the political left and the right. "Carnival is becoming more
messiah with a gun in his few positive tributes party- While the Carnival parade
hands" — a reference to goers were making to him used to be a chance for
Bolsonaro's middle name, on social media. Brazilian politicians to bask
Messias. Likewise, other politicians in the reflected glory of the
But Bolsonaro himself was once more passed on the celebration, today they of-
nowhere to be seen at the opportunity to see and be ten find themselves at the
country's most famous par- seen in Rio's parade, end- center of samba schools'
ty. ing a tradition that had criticisms and so are avoid-

People raise their hands and drums as they rally in solidarity with
Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs opposed to the Costal GasLink
Pipeline, in Ottawa, on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020.
Associated Press
New rail blockades in Canada
emerge as talks continue

HAMILTON, Ontario (AP) of passengers scrambling
— Protesters erected new to make alternative travel
rail blockades Tuesday plans and caused numer-
as Prime Minister Justin ous delays and cancella-
Trudeau's government said tions.
it was working to calm ten- Hamilton police said they
sions with a British Columbia had no plans to move in on
First Nation at the heart of the small group of demon-
demonstrations disrupting strators camped out on the
train traffic across Canada. tracks near a Canadian
A day after police disman- National Railway Co. de-
tled a major railway block- pot.
ade near Belleville, On- Demonstrators have set up
tario, new ones surfaced in blockades in British Colum-
both Quebec and Ontario. bia, Ontario and Quebec
The largest emerged in in solidarity with opponents
Hamilton along a heavily of the Coastal GasLink
traveled commuter rail line. pipeline project that cross-
The disruption along what es the traditional territory of
the Go Transit passenger the Wet'suwet'en First Na-
rail service describes as its tion in northwestern British
busiest route left thousands Columbia. q