A woman in Brazil has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after participating in the 2023 unrest in Brasilia, where government buildings were attacked following a contested election. Debora Rodrigues, a 39-year-old hairdresser, was among hundreds who gathered in protest, leading to widespread damage and violence.

During the riots, Rodrigues used lipstick to scrawl an offensive message on a statue outside the Supreme Federal Court, an act that later became infamously known as the “lipstick coup.” Her graffiti read, “You lost, idiot,” aimed at the newly elected government.

Justice Cristiano Zanin, part of the five-judge panel overseeing the case, emphasized that Rodrigues was not being tried solely for defacing public property. She was convicted of several serious crimes, including the destruction of property, membership in a criminal organization, and involvement in an attempted coup.

Rodrigues was arrested during a larger investigation into an alleged coup attempt against the newly inaugurated leadership. Authorities allege that the protest was part of a broader coordinated effort to challenge the results of the national election.

In court, Rodrigues expressed remorse for her actions. She apologized for the message she wrote and insisted that she had not engaged in any violent activities during the riots.

“I am a good citizen,” Rodrigues told the court. “I attended the protest without knowing it would turn so chaotic. I have never committed a crime before in my life.”

Her defense attorneys argued that she acted impulsively, driven by emotion during the protest, and highlighted that she never entered any government buildings during the unrest.

Despite her apology and claims of nonviolence, the court ruled that Rodrigues’s actions contributed to a larger movement aimed at undermining democratic institutions. The sentence reflects the serious approach Brazilian courts are taking toward participants in the January 2023 riots.

The prosecution maintained that even symbolic acts, such as vandalizing monuments of justice, played a role in fueling anti-government sentiment and destabilizing public order.

The sentencing of Rodrigues marks another chapter in Brazil’s broader efforts to hold individuals accountable for the January 2023 disturbances.

Authorities continue to investigate and prosecute individuals believed to have orchestrated or significantly participated in the violent events.

Rodrigues is expected to serve her sentence in a women’s correctional facility, with limited opportunities for early release given the severity of the crimes.

This case sends a strong message that actions intended to undermine democratic processes, even if symbolic, will face serious legal consequences.