Brazil's Debora Rodrigues Sentenced to 14 Years for 'Lipstick Coup'

Debora Rodrigues, a hairdresser and supporter of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, was sentenced to 14 years in prison after writing an offensive message in lipstick on a statue during the January 2023 riots in Brasília. She was not convicted solely for the graffiti, but for multiple offences including destruction of property, membership in a criminal organization, and involvement in an attempted coup against President Lula da Silva's government. Rodrigues apologized in court, claiming she acted impulsively and did not participate in violence or enter any buildings, while her lawyers argued she was unaware of the scale of the protests. The presiding justices emphasized her conscious alignment with anti-government demonstrators and cited evidence suggesting she tried to conceal her involvement. Her case has become a rallying point for Bolsonaro supporters, who argue that the sentence is politically motivated and overly harsh. Even Bolsonaro has called for amnesty, as he faces his own legal troubles related to the alleged coup attempt.