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Brazil's Attorney General charges presidential candidate with racism

Saturday, April 14th 2018 - 11:08 UTC
Full article 4 comments
Attorney General Raquel Dodge charged Jair Bolsonaro for statements comparing members of rural settlements founded by the descendants of slaves to animals Attorney General Raquel Dodge charged Jair Bolsonaro for statements comparing members of rural settlements founded by the descendants of slaves to animals

One of the front-runners in Brazil's presidential campaign was charged with racism on Friday by the country's top prosecutor. Attorney General Raquel Dodge charged conservative deputy Jair Bolsonaro for statements comparing members of rural settlements founded by the descendants of slaves to animals. Members of the settlements are called “quilombolas” in Brazil.

Dodge said Bolsonaro promotes hate speech by attacking blacks, women, foreigners, native Brazilians and homosexuals, dealing a major blow to a politician polling second ahead of October's presidential elections. Jailed former President Lula da Silva currently leads the preferences, but could be barred from running by Brazil's electoral authorities.

“This unacceptable statement on quilombolas is aligned with the regime of slavery in which blacks were treated as merchandise and with the idea of inequality between human beings,” Dodge said. “After that, the accused said quilombolas don't do anything and are unfit even to breed, deprecating them emphatically and absolutely for who they are.”

Brazilian politicians have a special jurisdiction in the country's top court, which will later decide whether Bolsonaro will have to stand trial. If convicted, Bolsonaro could be jailed for up to three years. Dodge also wants him to pay about US$ 120,000 in collective damages.

A Datafolha poll published in the end of January showed Bolsonaro leading in Brazil's presidential race if Lula da Silva is not allowed to run.

Last Wednesday, the Supreme Court of Brazil rejected the habeas corpus petition of former Brazilian President Lula da Silva. The court’s Chief Justice, Cármen Lúcia, cast the tiebreaking vote that sealed his fate.

Categories: Politics, Brazil.

Top Comments

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  • :o))

    Is the presidential candidate is TREMBLING with FEAR?

    Apr 14th, 2018 - 01:52 pm +1
  • :o))

    @DT:

    REF: Not if they put him in jail too...

    IF the politicians are jailed [in its truthful sense - without being victimized, and without ANY privileges] each one of them will need to serve - DESRVE - Life-Sentences for The Corruption [MAINLY] + Other SERIOUS Crimes.

    However; MOST of them actually BENEFIT from being behind the bars:
    - KNOWING that they are there for the namesake ONLY
    - in the 5-Star Cells with special [royal] treatment + benefits (strictly denied to the normal prisoners).
    - supposedly for a NUMBER of years but LEGALLY get out by serving the well-SHORTENED sentences.
    - Their colleagues [free or not yet imprisoned] support them [financially, of course] to keep their “Lips Sealed”
    - benefit from the government - receiving absurdly huge compensations for being “WRONGLY” imprisoned.
    - Being “NOT Guilty” anymore, they remain politically active [till dead] and continue to earn the LAVISH privileges - not only for themselves but also for their Families [Relatives+Friends (known as the ORANGES)]

    So Imprisoned or FREE [to steal]; what's the difference?
    http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gYaeEuSxQSo/VHUT8M3h-RI/AAAAAAAACPg/1EVVB_jgNrY/s1600/charge%2Bempreiteiros%2Bpresos%2B-%2BElson%2BSouto.jpg

    Apr 15th, 2018 - 10:48 am +1
  • DemonTree

    Not if they put him in jail too...

    Apr 14th, 2018 - 08:10 pm 0
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