The liberty walk led by deputy Nikolas Ferreira (PL-MG) completed its sixth day on January 24, approaching Brasília and causing disruptions on BR-040 traffic and BRT in Santa Maria (DF). The event, protesting STF decisions and supporting former president Jair Bolsonaro, will culminate in a rally at Praça do Cruzeiro on January 25. Security measures, including grates at the Palácio do Planalto, were implemented despite the rally's distance.
The 'Walk for Liberty', organized by federal deputy Nikolas Ferreira (PL-MG), began on January 19 in Paracatu (MG) and covered about 240 km on foot to Brasília, gathering supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro and political allies. On the sixth day, January 24, the group left Luziânia (GO) around 8:20 a.m. and advanced along BR-040, reaching the Santa Maria (DF) area, where it caused 17 km traffic jams and closed the south BRT lane. The Secretariat of Transport and Mobility (Semob-DF) activated an emergency plan for public transport, while a nearby overpass near the Chifrudo Statue was evacuated as a precaution after supporters climbed it, with no damage or injuries reported.
The Institutional Security Office (GSI) installed protective grates around the Palácio do Planalto as a protocol measure, though District Federal security forces assess the invasion risk as null, given the rally at Praça do Cruzeiro, 6.5 km from Praça dos Três Poderes. The Federal Highway Police (PRF) created a crisis cabinet to monitor traffic and plan diversions for January 25, anticipating a large contingent of protesters.
On social media, the walk sparked memes likening it to 'Forrest Gump', dubbed 'Forrest Coup' by critics, while supporters view it as bolstering Nikolas's image. Vice-governor Celina Leão (PP-DF) praised the initiative in a video, comparing it to Martin Luther King's march and the biblical Nehemiah's rebuilding, calling it a 'march of conscience' for pacification. STF Justice Alexandre de Moraes banned protests near the Papuda Complex, where Bolsonaro is imprisoned, ordering the removal of camps and arrests for disobedience. Nikolas's team confirmed the event at Praça do Cruzeiro, denying plans to approach the prison, and stated they notified the PRF about the route.
