Thousands of people took to the streets of Porto Alegre in Brazil on January 23 in support of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, whose conviction on corruption and money laundering charges was up for appeal the following day, on January 24.Lula was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years in prison in July 2017. He is also hoping to win another term as president in the elections on October 7 this year – a race he is currently favorite to win, despite the charges against him. If the appeals court upholds the charges, his hopes of winning the presidency again may be over.Videos broadcast live on Facebook show crowds gathered in Porto Alegre, where the court decision was due to be announced. Media reported that as many as 70,000 people came to support Lula, including former President Dilma Rousseff and Brazilian singer Ana Canas. Credit: Sindinter Rodoviários via Storyful