Politics · Brazil · 4 hrs ago
Rio police investigate chained-man scene at pro-Bolsonaro rally
Rio de Janeiro police are investigating a scene at a pro-Flávio Bolsonaro rally in the city’s Barra da Tijuca district.
It showed a Black man chained and carrying a white man during a campaign gathering held on the eve of a second-round election.
The participants say the scene was meant to portray former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as the devil and Bolsonaro as capturing him.
The images spread online, and Brazil’s racial-crimes and intolerance unit is investigating the circumstances.
The Ministry of Racial Equality condemned the scene and sent letters to the Justice Ministry and the regional electoral prosecutor, saying it carried added meaning in an election because of the legacy of slavery.
The police have not said whether they have questioned the two men, so the investigation’s next steps are unclear.
Rio’s Civil Police are investigating a scene at a pro-Flávio Bolsonaro rally in which a Black man was chained and carried a white man.
The scene took place on Saturday, October 24, in Barra da Tijuca, on the eve of a second-round election.
Participants said the scene was satire intended to portray Lula as Satan and Bolsonaro as arresting him.
Brazil’s Ministry of Racial Equality condemned the scene and sent letters to the Justice Ministry and the Regional Electoral Prosecutor’s Office in Rio.
- Who
- Rio’s Civil Police are investigating the participants in the scene. The white man was identified as businessman Carlos Eduardo Martins.
- What
- A Black man was chained and carried a white man during a rally. Police are investigating the circumstances.
- When
- Saturday, October 24, on the eve of a second-round election.
- Where
- Barra da Tijuca, in southwestern Rio de Janeiro.
- Why
- The participants said it was satire portraying Lula as Satan and Bolsonaro as arresting him.
The participants
Brazil’s Ministry of Racial Equality
Purpose of the scene
The participants
The participants said it was satire aimed at Lula, not racism.
Brazil’s Ministry of Racial Equality
The ministry condemned the scene, saying it carried deeper meaning because of the legacy of slavery.
Response to the scene
The participants
Martins and the Black participant denied racism and said they did not intend to offend.
Brazil’s Ministry of Racial Equality
The ministry sent letters to the Justice Ministry and the Regional Electoral Prosecutor’s Office in Rio.
The chained-man scene took place at a pro-Flávio Bolsonaro rally in Barra da Tijuca.
Brazil’s Ministry of Racial Equality issued a statement condemning the scene and sent letters to government and electoral authorities.
Folha reported that Rio’s Civil Police were investigating the circumstances of the scene.
- Location
- Barra da Tijuca, southwestern Rio de Janeiro
- Date of rally
- Saturday, October 24
- Investigation unit
- Decradi, the police unit for racial crimes and intolerance offences
- White participant
- Carlos Eduardo Martins
- Ministry response
- Statement issued Sunday, October 25
What people are saying
Scenes like this, especially in an electoral context, have an even deeper meaning because of the marks our society still carries as a consequence of the period of slavery and how it continues to wound our nation.
The intention was simply satire. On my social media I have called Lula Satan, the devil, for many years. We wanted to show that Lula was Satan and Bolsonaro was arresting Lula.
If I offended any Brazilian, that was not my intention. My apology is to all Brazilians. The only intention was satire against the current government.
We are friends, we have known each other for more than ten years. It has nothing to do with racism.