Note from BW of Brazil: Over the past decades, few slogans that sum up the struggle of black populations against inequality, police brutality, oppression and homicidal police actions as well the phrase “black lives matter”. And there is good reason for this. Based on what I’ve seen, read and witnessed for most of my life, there does seem to be a general consensus that when black folks die it’s somehow not as a big a deal as when people with white skin die. And as much as news of the murders of African-Americans such as Mike Brown, Travon Martin, Eric Garner and so many more make world headlines, the murders of Afro-Brazilians such as Amarildo Dias de Souza, Evaldo Rosa dos Santos, and Pedro Gonzaga and so many others hardly causes a collective raising of the eyebrows by the majority of Brazilian society. This in a country in which the police are far more lethal than those in the United States.
With the latest report showing that 75% of the victims of homicides in Brazil are preto (black) or pardo (brown), there is arguably a more pressing need to insist that “Black Lives Matter” in Brazil is an even more urgent matter that the situation in the United States. And with more and more black Brazilians understanding the connection between skin color and the higher likelihood of losing one’s life in a violent matter, the exact translation of the slogan, Vidas Negras Importam, has become a popular phrase and consistent present at protests and marches against Afro-Brazilians see as the genocide of the black population.
As such, with such parallels between the senseless murders of black people in both countries, it was only a matter of time before the groups began to form allegiances in a common struggle and the organization Center for Studies on Labor Relations and Inequalities, or CEERT, is making this happen by bringing in a key member of the Black Lives Matter movement to São Paulo, next Saturday, July 27th. As I fully support the slogan “black lives matter” but don’t fully support the movement itself, I am simply sharing the news. See the details below.
Black Lives Matter to Brazil: CEERT brings Co-founder for the first time
By Leonardo Fabri
The activist and writer, Opal Tometi, comes to Brazil for the first time. Action is the result of the articulation of CEERT and partners. Activity is part of the Julho das Pretas (July of the Black Women), with the March of the Black Women of São Paulo being a major event.
Black Women Moving the Structures: Dialogues with Black Lives Matter
The Center for Studies on Labor Relations and Inequalities – CEERT and the Social Service of Commerce – SESC invite everyone to honor the Human Rights activist and co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Movement, Opal Tometi, on her first visit to Brazil.
In celebration of the International Day of Latin American and Caribbean Black Women (July 25) and as part of the Julho das Pretas (July of the Black Women and Black Women of São Paulo March (July 25) program, we will hold the debate “Black Women Moving the Structures: Dialogues with Black Lives Matter”.
The driving force behind this activity is to think about the impact of state violence on the lives of black populations, the genocide of black youth and the current political-economic-social scenario; as well as to contribute to new strategies of resistance in the fight against structural and institutional racism and its unfolding in the form of extermination of black populations.
The event counts on the partnership of the Coalizão Negra por Direitos (Black Coalition for Rights); of the Articulação Nacional de Negras Jovens Feministas – ANJF (National Articulation of Young Black Feminists); UNEAFRO and the March of the Black Women of São Paulo.
Featuring: Opal Tometi (Black Lives Matter); Angela Mendes (ANJF); Cida Bento (CEERT), Sara Branco (CEERT) and Neon Cunha (March of the Black Women of São Paulo).
Information
Black Women Moving the Structures: Dialogues with Black Lives Matter
Sesc Santa – Av. Luiz Dumont Villares, 579 – Theater
July 27, 2019 – 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Registration can be done here
Agenda
09:45 – Distribution of translation and accreditation devices.
10:30 – Presentation of the invited guests and contextualization
10:35 – Sara Branco (CEERT)
10:45 – Angela Mendes (ANJF)
10:50 – Cida Bento (CEERT)
11:00 – Opal Tometi (Black Lives Matter)
11:30 – Opening for questions with the public
11:55 – Closing
Source: CEERT
The BLM founders are co-ops and don’t care Black people period. They’ve allied themselves up with LGBT causes and have completely abandoned Black issues altogether. I hope Black Brazilians don’t fall for any of their BS.