What’s With All the Pots?

We try to stick to writing about legal issues, but sometimes there are cultural topics that we just can’t pass up. In this case, it’s pots. Kitchen pots, that is. But fear not; this isn’t an article about cooking.

We’re talking about panelaços - the infamous Brazilian pot-banging protests.

In Brazil, banging on pots as a sign of protest became popular in 2015 during the presidency of Dilma Rousseff. While Rousseff was speaking on TV, Brazilians would open their windows or go out to their balconies with kitchen pots to make as much noise as possible. Good luck to anyone who actually wanted to listen to her speak. The noise was deafening.

For some, it was an act of protest against what they viewed as a corrupt administration. For others, it was condemnation for the government’s response (or lack of response) to the country’s flailing economy. Eventually, Rousseff was impeached and removed from office.

Today, the trend continues, but this time for a different leader. President Jair Bolsonaro’s inaction and downright denial of the Coronavirus pandemic has seen the biggest balcony protests. He’s also been the target of panelaços to protest corruption, fiscal ineptitude, and ignorance to environmental disasters.

Brazilians know how to unite, especially around soccer. Just look at how they come together every four years for the World Cup. But now, a growing chorus of Brazilians young and old have joined together to make their voices (or pots) heard for another cause - in protest against their government.