Brazilian Sports Celebrities Launch Anti-Racism and Pro-Democracy Manifesto

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Comprising influential names from various sports disciplines, the group “Esporte pela Democracia” (Sport for Democracy) on Tuesday launched a manifesto in defense of human rights, press freedom, diversity, and democratic values.

Among the personalities signing the document are ex-swimmer Joanna Maranhão and ex-soccer player and commentator Walter Casagrande, Gustavo Kuerten (tennis), Luciano Corrêa (judo), Ana Moser, Fabi, Fê Garay, Isabel, Pedro Solberg and Serginho (volleyball), Alex Pussieldi and Arilson Silva (swimming), Grafite, Igor Julião, Juninho Pernambucano, Raí and Reinaldo Lima (soccer), former referees Carlos Simon and Salvio Spinola and journalists José Trajano, Juca Kfouri and Lúcio de Castro.

Following the anti-racist protests in the United States, the document highlights that sport, which has already produced countless black idols, has an obligation to counter the marginalization of ethnic minorities in Brazil.

“We continue to witness daily violence that systematically affects black, peripheral, poor populations, the preferred targets of power systems. The trivialization of black life historically adds thousands and thousands of deaths from violence, discrimination, daily racist practices right before our eyes”.

Despite not explicitly mentioning the President, the text still rejects the Bolsonaro Government’s stance in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and denounces attempts to destroy democracy through authoritarian measures, such as “disrespect for the Constitution, authoritarianism, distorted use of politics for the benefit of the few, attack on democratic institutions, dictatorial threats, curtailment of press freedom, destruction of policies to protect the environment, disrespect for indigenous peoples and the history of native peoples, attack on political and social minorities”.

The document headed by athletes joins other pro-democracy manifestos critical of Bolsonaro’s authoritarian escalation launched last week. One of them is “Estamos Juntos” (We Are In This Together), which already has over 250,000 signatures and was also endorsed by famed footballers Casagrande and Raí. Socrates’ brother, the current soccer director of São Paulo soccer club, has publicly criticized the Federal Government and even called the President irresponsible for encouraging the population not to respect social isolation measures.

After being censured by commentator Caio Ribeiro, who said that the São Paulo leader should stick only to sports, Raí was defended by Casagrande during a Sportv program. For the ex-Corinthians striker, athletes and sports celebrities should be free to issue political positions.

This week, Casagrande – who campaigned alongside Socrates against the military regime, again made a political stand, this time questioning police violence in Brazil and the United States in a post on Instagram.

“Two weeks ago, João Pedro, 14, a black boy, was murdered in Rio de Janeiro by the police. And this happens constantly here in Brazil. In the United States, a black man named George Floyd was also murdered by white police officers. And people are protesting. We don’t want hatred anymore, we want peace, love. I’m against racism, homophobia, prejudice… And I think we should take a stand. We can no longer accept hatred in our society.”

Source: El País