Far-right rioters damage Oscar Niemeyer architecture and artworks in Brasília government complex

On Sunday afternoon, thousands of far-right supporters of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro breached security in Brasília, invading the National Congress, Supreme Court, and presidential palace. They demanded the removal of newly inaugurated President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who was in São Paulo during the assault. The attack caused extensive damage to protected Oscar Niemeyer architecture, with fires and water harming the 1960 complex. Artworks were specifically targeted: Di Cavalcanti's 1962 painting As Mulatas suffered six rips, Marianne Peretti's stained glass window in the chamber of deputies was smashed, and Alfredo Ceschiatti's 1961 sculpture A Justiça was graffitied. Sculptures by Marta Minujín and Frans Krajcberg were also affected, and a crucifix is believed damaged. Protesters disrupted the Museu Nacional da República, with one woman touching exhibits and criticizing artists. Bolsonaro, who flew to the U.S. before Lula's inauguration, condemned the attack but compared it to leftist protests in 2013 and 2017. Lula had reopened the Ministry of Culture last week, closed by Bolsonaro in 2018. New Minister of Culture Margareth Menezes stated the National Institute of Historical Heritage (Iphan) would assess material damage, and she denounced the violence as extreme right-wing terrorism, vowing punishment. World leaders offered support after the incident.