Brazil Supreme Court
A woman who used lipstick to write on a statue during unrest in the Brazilian capital in 2023 has been sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Debora Rodrigues participated in the unrest with hundreds of supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who attacked government buildings after his election defeat the previous year.
The 29-year-old was found guilty of involvement in a criminal organization that aimed to overthrow the democratic rule of law.
Although many in Brazil believe her sentence is excessive, Justice Cristiano Zanin, one of the judges overseeing Rodrigues’s case, emphasized that she was convicted of multiple offenses, not just graffiti.
Supporters of Bolsonaro argue that the verdict further highlights the excessive power and partisanship of the Supreme Court.
Rodrigues was arrested as part of a broader investigation into an alleged coup plot against new President Lula da Silva.
The hairdresser, now 39, apologized for writing “You lost, idiot” on the statue of Justice outside the Supreme Federal Court in what was called the “lipstick coup” incident.
She maintains that she did not engage in any violence.
Rodrigues’ lawyers claimed she did not enter any buildings during the riots and acted impulsively in the heat of the moment. She expressed regret for her actions.
Joédson Alves/Agência Brasil
Justice Alexandre de Moraes, presiding over the case, argued that Rodrigues consciously aligned herself with demonstrators seeking to overthrow the government.
He stated that Rodrigues admitted to participating in anti-democratic acts in her police testimony, and that inconsistencies in her phone messages suggested she tried to hide evidence.
The case has become a focal point for Bolsonaro supporters who see Rodrigues as a victim of political persecution.
In February, a video about Rodrigues went viral on social media, and the following month, Bolsonaro called for amnesty for those involved in the civil unrest of 2023.
Bolsonaro himself faces criminal charges over the alleged coup attempt and could potentially face over 40 years in prison if found guilty.