With more than a thousand signatures in less than 24 hours after publication, the “Manifesto of support for democracy, the TSE and the Lula-Alckmin ticket” warns about the damage that fake news has produced in the elections this year, especially in the second round.
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The document, signed by journalists linked to newsrooms across Brazil, recognizes the “TSE’s efforts to curb the harmful interference of fake news in elections, respecting the limits of the Constitution and the law.”
The manifesto is available on online platform and open to receive new members.
Read the full text of the manifesto below 👇:
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Manifesto of support for democracy, the TSE and the Lula-Alckmin ticket
As journalists with an ethical commitment to pursuing and publishing the truth, we are outraged by the large flow of fake news produced with the deliberate aim of defrauding voters' free decisions in this second round of the presidential contest.
We repudiate any and all forms of censorship and do not allow freedom of expression to be distorted to allow the prevalence of lies in the electoral campaign. We also see with concern that public radio and TV concessions are used in favor of a candidacy. That is why we support the efforts of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) to curb harmful interference from fake news in elections, respecting the limits of the Constitution and the law.
Bolsonaro has had a history of violence since the 1980s, with the plan to explode bombs in barracks that led to his arrest. He and his children have connections with Adriano da Nóbrega, appointed as a militia member by the Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro (MP-RJ). The clan was accused by former employees of forcing employees to hand over a large part of their salaries to them. Since the 1990s, the family has purchased 107 properties and paid almost half in cash.
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Bolsonaro defends dictatorship, torture and the murder of opponents. It offends black, indigenous, northeastern and LGBTQIA+ citizens. He finds it natural to feel sexual attraction to 14-year-old girls. He showed himself to be inhumane in the face of the pain of Brazilians during the pandemic. He was incompetent in the economy and hunger returned. He despised science, the environment, culture and education.
Bolsonaro destroyed transparency and anti-corruption instruments. He bought the support of Congress with the secret budget, increasing the embezzlement of public resources to unprecedented levels. With the illegal use of the public machine, Bolsonaro deceives many, but not journalists worthy of the name. Hence his fury against us, directed above all at his female colleagues.
He is a president who openly preaches disobedience to court decisions and who encourages the population to arm themselves, thus contributing to weakening republican institutions and encouraging violence.
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We, journalists who defend inclusive democratic communication that respects the values of diversity and ethnic-racial equality, recommend voting for Lula and Alckmin in this election in which our democracy is at stake.
Lula has already demonstrated his qualities as a manager and proved his innocence after the unfair judicial massacre. There is nothing communist about it, as its enemies claim. He is a conciliator, who has the support of workers and the most lucid part of the country's business community and intelligentsia.
We reiterate our support for the TSE and demand greater commitment from large digital platforms in combating fake news to have clean, free and safe elections. With the broad alliance led by Lula and Alckmin, we will rediscover peace, development and, fundamental for the survival of journalism, we will have the guarantee that democracy will survive!
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#FakeNewsIsNotFreedom
#FakeNewsIsCrime
#ISupportTSE
#ManifestoOfJournalists
#ForaBolsonaro
#LulaPresidente
