Marcelo de Arruda was celebrating his 50th birthday at a pro-Workers’ Party (PT) event when a man later identified as Jorge José da Rocha Guaranho drove past the venue, got out of his car, and began provoking attendees. After a brief argument, Guaranho returned to his car, grabbed a gun, and shot Arruda dead while shouting in favor of President Jair Bolsonaro.

Arruda, a municipal guard and PT treasurer, was still able to fight back and wound Guaranho, a law enforcement officer, before he could shoot more people.

This is just one in a myriad of violent instances in lead-up to the first round of voting in Brazil’s presidential election on Sunday, October 7, in which Bolsonaro secured a run-off election with PT candidate and former president Lula Da Silva.

Less than a week after the assassination of Arruda, a campaign event held by the Lula-backed candidate for governor of Rio de Janeiro, Marcelo Freixo, was interrupted by Bolsonaro supporters. State congressperson Rodrigo Amorim and some goons, carrying guns, made threats to those present and tore up party flags.

Full article at Latino Rebels’ website. Date of publication: 03/10/2022.