The Americas

Brazil: Pro-Rousseff protesters march toward TV Globo

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Demonstrators light smoke flares during a protest against efforts to impeach Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff and in support of her mentor, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, March 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine) (The Associated Press)

Demonstrators protest against efforts to impeach Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff and in support of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, March 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine) (The Associated Press)

Thousands of Brazilians demonstrated in Sao Paulo in support of embattled President Dilma Rousseff, who faces an impeachment effort in congress over alleged fiscal mismanagement.

Organizers of Thursday night's march said about 30,000 people joined in, while police estimated 17,000.

Many of them are marching to the headquarters of TV Globo. Rousseff sympathizers accuse the popular television station of being partisan and pushing for the president's ouster.

Brazil is in its worst recession in decades and a sprawling corruption scandal at the state-run oil giant Petrobras has been moving closer to Rousseff's inner circle in recent weeks.

A recent poll by the respected Datafolha agency says 68 percent of Brazilians surveyed want to see lawmakers vote to impeach Rousseff.