Brazil's Lula defies prison order as crowds rally for and against him

[Judi Lynn]

4. Lula begins prison sentence in Brazil after giving himself up to police

Lula begins prison sentence in Brazil after giving himself up to police
The former president vows to prove his innocence of corruption after ending a two-day standoff with the authorities
Sam Cowie in São Bernardo do Campo

@samcowie84
Sat 7 Apr 2018 22.58 EDT

Brazil’s former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has handed himself in to police after spending two nights at the metalworkers’ union headquarters in São Paulo in defiance of an arrest warrant.

“I’m going to prove my innocence,” Lula told a large crowd of adoring supporters on Saturday at the building where he began his political career. “Do what you want, the powerful can kill one, two or 100 roses. But they’ll never manage to stop the arrival of spring.”

Afterwards, he was carried on the shoulders of supporters shouting “Free Lula!” before being flown to the southern city of Curitiba where he will begin serving a 12-year sentence for corruption.

Military police in Curitiba were later forced to disperse Lula supporters with rubber bullets and tear gas when he arrived at a police station in the city.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/07/crowds-in-sao-paulo-block-lula-from-handing-himself-in