Response to Bolsonaro’s social media claims

Once again, we want to extend our gratitude to everyone who participated in #StopBolsonaro: those who signed the letter; those who spread the word on social media; those who organized the protests that were to take place if the event went forward; and other supporters around the world.

Since the cancellation was announced, we’ve seen differing reactions on social media. Those of us who oppose Bolsonaro are jubilant! Many Brazilians are tweeting the hashtag #BolsonaroFugiu (Bolsonaro ran away). Bolsonaro’s supporters, however, are claiming that he did well to escape a “leftist trap.” We feel it’s important to highlight the problems with that narrative. First, it was Bolsonaro’s team that originally reached out to GWU. They wanted the prestige that an event at a US university would bring them, but were not willing to participate in an event in which Bolsonaro might be challenged. As Mark Langevin, their host at GWU, put it: “He basically hides beyond social media.”

We opposed this event because of the risk that it might legitimize Bolsonaro. We do not think the hate speech of a fringe candidate from a minor political party is worthy of a platform at a university. However, if his candidacy continues, debate will become necessary. Presidential candidates in Brazil are expected to defend their views in debate with their opponents, and Jair Bolsonaro has never shown himself capable of that. Bolsonaro speaks in front of his sympathizers, in private meetings, and in interviews. But he’s not prepared for an open, democratic debate, in which his extremists views and opinions will be challenged, and where he’ll have to seriously defend his flimsy proposals.

We hope that this episode will once again prove that Bolsonaro is not qualified to run for president of Brazil. His platform is hatred of minorities and a return to a murderous military dictatorship. He himself admits that he has only a “superficial” understanding of the economy. After more than 20 years as a Federal Deputy he has only succeeded in passing 2 bills into law. In small, closed-door meetings he is able to present a more moderate, “Bolso-light” image, but it’s clear that he was unprepared to do so in front of a larger audience, in response to serious questions from an academic. His claim that these questions would be in some way “unfair” only further exposes his cowardice.

As the 2018 presidential campaigns begin in earnest, we hope that our fellow Brazilians will keep this in mind. Bolsonaro may be attempting to change his image, but he remains the same sexist, racist, bigoted coward he has always been. Don’t let your friends and family fall for his act! Remind them of his decades-long record of hate speech and political failure. Where his online fans cry “Bolsomito” (Bolso-myth) show them the reality. #StopBolsonaro!

Comments from signatories to our open letter

Here are some of the excellent comments we have received from people who signed our open letter.

We received signatures and comments from GWU students and alumni.

“Please do not give a misogynistic, racist, and homophobic political leader a voice at our campus.” Sarah Ingram, GW Student

“Don’t let our school become propaganda for a dictator in the making.” Kylie Sertic, GW Alumna

Many people referenced Brazil’s history of dictatorship and torture, saying that Brazil needs to move forward, not backward.

“This man is dangerous and insolent – he openly defends the torture practiced by the military during the iron years!” William Goldsmith, Professor emeritus, Cornell University (USA), former prof UnB, UFCeara

“Bolsonaro is a regress for democracy.” Rute Andrade dos Santos, UFT

“In the fight for Democracy! Against fascism.”
“Na luta pela Democracia! Contra o fascismo.” Rosa Maria Godoy Silveira, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Brazil/Núcleo de Cidadania, Políticas Públicas e Direitos Humanos

“Torture never again!”
“Tortura nunca mais!” Maria Josephina Facciolla Rubino (Brazil)

“Bolsonaro represents moving backward.”
“Bolsonaro representa retrocessos.” Débora Bezerra de Melo, Faculdade Uninove

“We can not walk backward.” Ana Lucia Vieira

“Stop those who honor murder and torture!” David Zinno, Brown University, Dept. of Applied Music

“Jair Bolsonaro is the expression of all that is most backwards and retrograde in terms of public administration. He doesn’t know anything about economics. He is xenophobic, sexist, homophobic, racist, and an idolizer of torturers in the military dictatorship. Do not host or even listen to this person. Please.”
“Jair Bolsonaro é a expressão do que há de mais atrasado e retrógrado em termos de administração pública. Nada entende de economia. É xenófobo, machista, homofóbico, racista e cultuador de torturadores da ditadura militar. Não recebam nem ouçam este sujeito. Por favor.” Daniel Barbo, FFLCH-USP

“#TortureNeverAgain”
“#TorturaNuncaMais This mockery of a human being has no place in Brazil’s future.” Claudia Tatinge Nascimento, Macalester College

Others commented that Bolsonaro’s hate speech, which is illegal in Brazil and for which he has been fined on multiple occasions, should not be given a platform at a major US university.

“Bolsonaro is a fascist and it is not admissible that he be granted a forum in which to propagate his discourse of hate and intolerance.”
“Bolsonaro é um fascista e não é admissível que lhe seja garantido qualquer fórum para que ele propague seu discurso de ódio e intolerância.” Adelia Luciana Rangel, teacher and social activist

“The endorsement of racism, rape, anti feminism offenses, torture, denial of human and social rights for all; violence against LGBTT, workers, students, retired people, indigenous people and all disenfranchised should not be avowed, but repelled.” Angela Siqueira, Universidade Federal Fluminense

“Please do not allow this type of human being close to your institution if you consider yourself to have ethics and good character. When ‘free speech’ interferes with other minority groups having basic human rights is no longer ‘free speech’. Thank you.” Daniela Mattos-Turcinov

“We denounce Jair Bolsonaro for his racist, homophobic, misogynistic, white supremacist, pro-rape and pro-gun violence public demonstrations, among many others. He is unfit to remain in politics in Brazil.” Defend Democracy in Brazil, Independent activist group

“Deputy Bolsonaro is populist on low slang, ideas and posture Nazi and fascist so much that it is idol of the Brazilian neo-Nazis, he promotes hatred between varied ideologies, attacks LGBT, promotes to arm the people like unique form of defense against violence, idolizes torturers of the Brazilian military regime , black people attacked including yesterday received a condemnation of $ 50,000.00 for moral damages to the “quilombola” peoples (descendants of black slaves), he said in April, at the Hebrew Club in Rio that quilombolas are “Not good even for procreation”. Three months ago he was sentenced by high judge court on another condemnation for misogynistic and rude verbal offenses against the a madam deputy in the tribune, and on same case he awaits judgment for the physical aggression against same madam deputy. He is not a good person to speech, very weak in terms of economics, geo-politics and zero culture. It is limited to topics such as weaponry, prejudice, violence.” Marta Nobre de Alcântara, UNA University (MG, Brazil)

“This individual does not deserve any kind of support or exposure.” Mario Mieli, Editor, Imediata.org

“Do not support prejudiced people like this man. We want democracy and rights for all!”
“Nenhum apoio a pessoas preconceituosas como esse senhor. Queremos democracia e direitos para todos!” Solange M J Ribeiro, Brazilian

“A university should not give a voice to a reactionary.”
“Uma universidade não deve dar voz a um reacionário.” Virginia Moking

“I do not support racist, fascist, Nazi, homophobic, misogynist speech, all present in the hate speech of Jair Bolsonaro.”“Não apoio discursos racistas, fascistas, nazistas, homofóbicos, misóginos, todos eles presentes nos discursos de ódio do Jair Bolsonaro.” José Olinda Braga, Universidade Federal do Ceará

Jair Bolsonaro is known for his polemical and rude conduct. Despite collecting opponents, he has been able to take advantage of parliamentary immunity to escape from possible punishment. His peers in Congress are his preferred targets. Despite apparently having more enemies than friends, Bolsonaro seems to be unharmed by lawsuits. The acclaim many have for him has nothing to do with his economic policy positions, nor with some eventual defense of civil liberties. The congressman has been affiliated with nine different parties during his political career. He has been in the Social Christian Party (PSC) since March of 2016, but he came into conflict with the leadership and started a process to enter the National Ecological Party (PEN) in 2017. He is a political physiologist. If that wasn’t enough, we can cite a few of “Bolsonaro’s Pearls”:

“I wouldn’t rape you. You’re not worth it.” (Said from the podium of the Chamber of Congress to the federal deputy Maria do Rosário);

“I don’t run that risk, my sons were very well brought up.” (Response to Preta Gil, regarding what he would do if his sons entered into a relationship with a black woman or a homosexual man);

“The PM [military police] should have killed 1,000, not 111 inmates.” (Comment on the Carandiru Massacre);

“Politicians should not ride the bus.” (Statement published in the newspaper O Dia in 2013);

“Women should earn a lower salary because they can get pregnant.” (Explaining the statement: “when she comes back [from maternity leave] she’ll get another month of vacation, in other words, she only worked five months out of the year.”)

For these statements, and perhaps for others that he may make in the future, I WILL NOT VOTE FOR JAIR BOLSONARO.

“Jair Bolsonaro é conhecido por se pautar por polêmicas e indelicadezas. Apesar de colecionar opositores, tem conseguido tirar vantagem da imunidade parlamentar e escapado das possíveis punições. Os pares do Parlamento são seus alvos preferidos. Apesar de, aparentemente, ter mais inimigos do que amigos, Bolsonaro parece passar sem fissuras por citações em processos. A aclamação de muitos por Bolsonaro não tem relação com seus posicionamentos econômicos, tampouco por uma eventual defesa às liberdades civis. O Parlamentar já foi filiado a nove partidos ao longo de sua carreira política. Está no Partido Social Cristão (PSC) desde março de 2016, mas entrou em conflito com lideranças e iniciou o processo para ingressar no Partido Ecológico Nacional (PEN) em 2017. Trata-se de um fisiologista político. Não fosse suficiente, ainda podemos citar algumas das “Pérolas de Bolsonaro”:

“Não te estupro porque você não merece.” (Falou da tribuna da Câmara Federal para a deputada federal Maria do Rosário);

“Eu não corro esse risco, meus filhos foram muito bem educados” (Respondeu para Preta Gil, sobre o que faria se seus filhos se relacionassem com uma mulher negra ou com homossexuais);

“A PM devia ter matado 1.000 e não 111 presos.” (Comentários sobre o Massacre do Carandiru);

“Parlamentar não deve andar de ônibus”. (Declaração publicada pelo jornal O Dia em 2013);

“Mulher deve ganhar salário menor porque engravida” (Justificando a frase: “quando ela voltar [da licença-maternidade, vai ter mais um mês de férias, ou seja, trabalhou cinco meses em um ano”).

Por essas, e talvez por outras que ele ainda há de manifestar, NÃO VOTARIA EM JAIR BOLSONARO.”

Jaci Augusta Neves de Souza, Centro Universitário Luterano de Palmas – CEULP/ULBRA

“He represents the worse in what concerns humanity.” Antonio Ribeiro Tupinamba, UFCeará

“Freedom of speech should not be interpreted in a manner that allows for the propagation of hate speech. American institutions are legitimizing fascism by agreeing to host Bolsonaro.” Ada Siqueira, Georgetown University

“It’s an insult to hear that an University invites Jair Bolsonaro regardless of his well known profile: racist, homophobic and supporter of torture.” Bernadete Lou, Freelance Photographer

“No to hate speech! No to racism! No to sexism! No to free guns in Brazil! No to military dictatorship! Yes to democracy, freedom and equality of all human beings! So, no to Bolsonaro!” Ligia MCS Rodgrigues, Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Físicas

“This man and his hideous ideas do not deserve a forum. He is an apologist for torture and murder and says the most racist and vile things against Afro-Brazilians, against women and the LGBT community.” Ayla Tiago, Citizen

“Does someone who is not content with merely positioning himself on the extreme right, but who sings the praises of the greatest torturer Brazil has known; who has recently been condemned for offending, with contempt, lies, and facetiousness, traditional Afro-Brazilian quilombola communities; who says that he ‘messed up’ and, for this reason, has a daughter instead of another son, as he expected: does he truly deserve to put a veneer of respectability on his shameless face at George Washington University? Or will he merely debase the history of this university?”
“alguém que não se contenta em, apenas, posicionar-se à extrema direita, mas que canta glórias ao maior torturador que o Brasil conheceu; que acaba de ser condenado por ofensa, com desprezo, mentira e jocosidade, a quilombolas; que afirma que “deu uma vacilada” e que, só por isto, tem uma filha em lugar de outro filho, conforme esperava, será que merece, realmente, passar “um verniz” em sua cara de pau na George Washington University? Ou vai, apenas, emporcalhar o histórico desta universidade?” Ademir Barros dos Santos, Universidade Federal de São Carlos

“It is unacceptable to promote a person who incites violence and disrespect for human rights.” Adelaide Nardocci, University of Sao Paulo

Finally, many commenters called Bolsonary a threat to democracy.

“I’m Brazilian man and I see Bolsonaro as a politician without values, a prejudiced man, who does not have in my view the posture of a good politician. Bolsonaro is a threat to democracy, his speech insists hatred, xenophobia, racism, and This in Brazil and anywhere else in the world is unacceptable.” Félix de Freitas Gil da Mata

“This man is clearly unfit to be president of any country. Giving him any recognition by a speech at your university would be endorsing the worst person possible as a candidate for president of Brazil.” Margaret Poe, Bowling Green State University and Temple University Alumnus (USA)

“How can a university open it’s doors to a bigot who opposes scientific evidence and pleads to military intervention and executions?” Thiago Reinaldos Silva, University of Sao Paulo

“The letter speaks for itself and as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, a former UN Correspondent, a NYU Master’s of Sciences alumnus and as a Brazilian citizen, I feel that this event is harmful and poses a tremendous threat to our democracy.” Sergio Cesario, International Journalist, NYU alumnus

Dr. James N. Green of Brown University responds to Bolsonaro’s invitation

This text was originally published on Dr. Green’s Facebook page.

Why is Brazilian Congressman Jair Bolsonaro visiting the United States?

Anyone following the complex political situation in Brazil knows that the October 2018 elections will be of crucial importance. Voters will choose the president, vice-president, the twenty-seven governors, two-thirds of federal senators, all of the members of the Chamber of Deputies, and the representatives from the state legislative bodies.

Polls indicate that in spite of the recent conviction of former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva he remains ahead among possible presidential candidates, although his rejection numbers surpass those favorable showings. He is currently appealing his sentence, but if that fails, it likely that he will be barred from running in next year’s elections.

Second in the polls is Federal Deputy Jair Bolsonaro, the extreme right-wing candidate from Rio de Janeiro, who surpasses other potential candidates from the traditional center-right Brazilian Social Democratic Party and other political parties. Those who watched the proceedings of the Chamber of Deputies on April 18, 2016, which voted to support the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff, remember that Bolsonaro cast his ballot against the president in name of the Brazilian dictatorship (1964-85) and in homage to Col. Ustra, who oversaw the torture of Rousseff while she was imprisoned in the early 1970s for her radical opposition to the military regime.

Those who have accompanied his public statements over the years also know where Bolsonaro stands. He is overtly misogynistic, homophobic and racist. Charges have been brought against him in the Supreme Court for having suggested the rape of fellow Congressional representative. He defends torture and torturers and has called for a return of military rule.

Now in an effort to expand his prestige and importance in Brazil, he is traveling to the United States where he will be speaking at George Washington University on Friday, October 13. By appearing at an important U.S. university in the nation’s capital, he is legitimizing his image. He sends the message that he has support in U.S. academia. It’s a propaganda ploy to show his supporters and others in Brazil that he is a viable candidate for the presidency.

I lived in Brazil for six years during the military dictatorship. I remember the censorship of the press, television, radio, and theater. I remember the attempts to silence the small oppositions newspapers. I remember the military police’s violent invasion of the Pontificate Catholic University of São Paulo in 1977 to prevent student activists from refounding the National Union of Students.

To be very clear, I strongly believe in the freedom of speech and the press, and the right to lawfully assemble. I defend the rights of others to express their opinion, even when I disagree with them. However, that doesn’t mean that I have to invite the extreme right into my home for dinner or into my classroom to give a talk.

Jair Bolsonaro has the freedom to speak his mind in Brazil, and he has done so, offending Afro-Brazilians, women, and LBGTQ people with his racist, sexist and homophobic comments. In fact, he has been fined for public comments that violates Brazilian laws. Yet he still has the right to talk to the press and give a speech on the floor of the Brazilian Congress.

But should we invite him to a U.S. university to speak? Or should I say, should a university be obligated to invite him to campus? What does it do other than legitimate him in the eyes of his followers and potential supporters in Brazil? Do we invite members of the KKK to campus as a way of indicating we are in favor of free speech, healthy debate, and an exchange of ideas? Do we invite Holocaust deniers to our universities in order to give them a platform to legitimate their lies?

No doubt if George Washington University doesn’t withdraw its invitation, someone will speak up in the event denouncing his ideas. Others will probably protest outside. Bolsonaro will have achieved his goals of getting onto the front page of Brazilians newspapers and on TV news broadcasts. It will please his followers and strengthen the support among his base. (Trump did a similar thing during the Republican primaries last year to catapult himself to first place). Do we want to enable this?

Bolsonaro has every right to travel to the United States, to schedule meetings with politicians, and to speak to the press. But should we say: “Come over here. We want to give you a podium, a microphone, and a forum to defend your ideas? Academic freedom does not obligate us to offer the stage to people who constantly spew hatred.

And it is a big mistake to extend those invitations to people who themselves do not believe in free speech. Bolsonaro is clear. He wants Brazil to return to the days of the dictatorship when those who lifted their voices in opposition to military rule were arrested, tortured and murdered, when culture was censored, and all Brazilians were denied their basic democratic and human rights. It’s not too late to say: “We’ve changed our minds.”

James N. Green

Professor of Brazilian History and Culture

Brown University