Funk Movement Intends to Take Paraisópolis Case to International Courts

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Bruno Ramos, a cultural producer who has been involved with funk for 20 years and the organizer of the National Funk Movement, and Renata Prado, producer and organizer of the Funk Women’s National Front, made the announcement during a public hearing on the Paraisópolis case held in São Paulo’s Legislative Assembly yesterday evening.

The meeting was organized by deputy Erica Malunguinho and was supported by other members of the party, by Leci Brandão as well as the Workers’ Party bench. According to Renata, the police action during the DZ7 dance in Paraisópolis is part of a series of attacks and murders of funk artists and attendees of funk parties in Rio and São Paulo since 2010.

“The news this time was the death of nine youths, but it didn’t start now,” she said.

Renata recalled that in November 2018, three youths were trampled to death at a funk party in Guarulhos after tear gas was fired at the guests.

She said the attack is racist and purposefully directed. “In the party of college students in São Paulo and at the Lions party, funk is played and no violence happens. We will take this case to international tribunals,” she said.

‘A crime against humanity’

According to Bruno Ramos, who is also a sociology and political science student, the funk movement represents 20 million Brazilians who appreciate the musical style.

Bruno says that what happened in Paraisópolis was a crime against humanity (when state agents systematically attack the civilian population) and that the case demands a new public security pact.

According to Bruno, funk is a cultural asset with “rhythm and aesthetics that inspire soap operas and project Brazilian culture as has not happened since Bossa Nova”.

The public hearing was scheduled to begin at 7 PM but was postponed by one hour and 15 minutes due to the temporary closure of the Legislative Assembly as a result of the vote on the State Social Welfare Bill.

The intervention of deputies was required so that the public who came to the hearing could access the Franco Montoro auditorium.

Source: UOL