Former President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro led a political rally on Saturday, amidst growing turmoil over free speech, including the suspension of social media platform (formerly Twitter) in the country.

In an Instagram post, Bolsonaro said, “There is no point celebrating our independence if we are deprived of freedom,” and urged Brazilians to stay away from official Independence Day parades, instead calling on them to join him in Sao Paulo.

Last month, X announced that it would cease operations in Brazil, citing “censorship orders” from Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The platform raised concerns about the safety of its employees, claiming that the judge had increased threats against its legal team, including the potential arrest of its representative in Brazil.

Since then, Elon Musk, the owner of X, has harshly criticized Moraes, accusing him of being “a criminal cosplaying a judge” and describing the restrictions as “the most draconian demands of any country on Earth.” In 2022, during the opening of Starlink in Brazil, President Bolsonaro honored Elon with Brazil’s prestigious Order of Defense Merit.

Justice Moraes, known for his firm stance against disinformation, is leading several investigations into Bolsonaro, particularly regarding his involvement in the January 2023 riots. Bolsonaro, who narrowly lost to  President Lula in the last election, is under investigation for his alleged role in a coup attempt. During the riot, Bolsonaro’s supporters, known as Bolsonaristas, stormed key government buildings, demanding military intervention and claiming election fraud.

Bolsonaro and his supporters have been at odds with Judge Alexandre de Moraoes. As president of the Superior Electoral Court, Moraoes barred Bolsonaro from running for office until 2030, citing his attempts to undermine Brazil’s electoral process.