Press Releases

Progressive Caucus Members Condemn Trump's Embrace of Brazil's Bolsonaro

March 21, 2019

Washington, D.C. – Today, Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), alongside First Vice Chair Rep. Ro Khanna, CPC Whip Rep. Ilhan Omar, and CPC Co-Chair Emeritus Raúl M. Grijalva, released the following statement condemning President Trump's embrace of Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro: 

“It is deeply troubling to see President Trump heap unequivocal public praise on the far-right president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, upon his first trip to Washington. Bolsonaro has a long history of homophobic, misogynistic and racist hate speech, has praised torture and expressed admiration for Brazil’s military dictatorship, and has vowed to gut protections for the Amazon and its indigenous communities. 

“Much like Filipino president Rodrigo Duterte, Bolsonaro has advocated for ‘shoot-to-kill’ policing policies at a time when extrajudicial killings by Brazilian police are already soaring. His government is now supporting an initiative that is set to further weaken accountability around police killings, which disproportionately target Afro-Brazilian youth.  

“There has been a spike in violence and threats against minority groups since his victory. The first openly gay member of Brazil’s National Congress, Jean Wyllys, resigned his position amid death threats and sought asylum abroad. Bolsonaro and his sons have appeared to maintain ties with murderous militias in Río de Janeiro, including those responsible for carrying out the assassination of prominent Afro-Brazilian, LGBTQ politician and human rights defender Marielle Franco one year ago.

“At a time when far-right extremism is on the rise around the world, the United States must be standing up for universal values like tolerance and respect for human rights. Rather than rolling out the red carpet for Bolsonaro, the United States must call on Brazil’s president to respect the human rights of all Brazilians and to abide by his country’s commitments to advancing environmental protections and indigenous rights under international treaties.”

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“It is deeply troubling to see President Trump heap unequivocal public praise on the far-right president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, upon his first trip to Washington. Bolsonaro has a long history of homophobic, misogynistic and racist hate speech, has praised torture and expressed admiration for Brazil’s military dictatorship, and has vowed to gut protections for the Amazon and its indigenous communities.
 
“Much like Filipino president Rodrigo Duterte, Bolsonaro has advocated for ‘shoot-to-kill’ policing policies at a time when extrajudicial killings by Brazilian police are already soaring. His government is now supporting an initiative that is set to further weaken accountability around police killings, which disproportionately target Afro-Brazilian youth.  
 
“There has been a spike in violence and threats against minority groups since his victory. The first openly gay member of Brazil’s National Congress, Jean Wyllys, resigned his position amid death threats and sought asylum abroad. It also appears that there are ties between Bolsonaro and his sons have appeared to maintain ties with murderous militias in Río de Janeiro, including those responsible for carrying out the assassination of prominent Afro-Brazilian, LGBTQ politician and human rights defender Marielle Franco one year ago.
 
“At a time when far-right extremism is on the rise around the world, the United States must be standing up for universal values like tolerance and respect for human rights. Rather than rolling out the red carpet for Bolsonaro, the United States must call on Brazil’s president to respect the human rights of all Brazilians and to abide by his country’s commitments to advancing environmental protections and indigenous rights under international treaties.”“It is deeply troubling to see President Trump heap unequivocal public praise on the far-right president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, upon his first trip to Washington. Bolsonaro has a long history of homophobic, misogynistic and racist hate speech, has praised torture and expressed admiration for Brazil’s military dictatorship, and has vowed to gut protections for the Amazon and its indigenous communities.
 
“Much like Filipino president Rodrigo Duterte, Bolsonaro has advocated for ‘shoot-to-kill’ policing policies at a time when extrajudicial killings by Brazilian police are already soaring. His government is now supporting an initiative that is set to further weaken accountability around police killings, which disproportionately target Afro-Brazilian youth.  
 
“There has been a spike in violence and threats against minority groups since his victory. The first openly gay member of Brazil’s National Congress, Jean Wyllys, resigned his position amid death threats and sought asylum abroad. It also appears that there are ties between Bolsonaro and his sons have appeared to maintain ties with murderous militias in Río de Janeiro, including those responsible for carrying out the assassination of prominent Afro-Brazilian, LGBTQ politician and human rights defender Marielle Franco one year ago.
 
“At a time when far-right extremism is on the rise around the world, the United States must be standing up for universal values like tolerance and respect for human rights. Rather than rolling out the red carpet for Bolsonaro, the United States must call on Brazil’s president to respect the human rights of all Brazilians and to abide by his country’s commitments to advancing environmental protections and indigenous rights under international treaties.”
“It is deeply troubling to see President Trump heap unequivocal public praise on the far-right president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, upon his first trip to Washington. Bolsonaro has a long history of homophobic, misogynistic and racist hate speech, has praised torture and expressed admiration for Brazil’s military dictatorship, and has vowed to gut protections for the Amazon and its indigenous communities.
 
“Much like Filipino president Rodrigo Duterte, Bolsonaro has advocated for ‘shoot-to-kill’ policing policies at a time when extrajudicial killings by Brazilian police are already soaring. His government is now supporting an initiative that is set to further weaken accountability around police killings, which disproportionately target Afro-Brazilian youth.  
 
“There has been a spike in violence and threats against minority groups since his victory. The first openly gay member of Brazil’s National Congress, Jean Wyllys, resigned his position amid death threats and sought asylum abroad. It also appears that there are ties between Bolsonaro and his sons have appeared to maintain ties with murderous militias in Río de Janeiro, including those responsible for carrying out the assassination of prominent Afro-Brazilian, LGBTQ politician and human rights defender Marielle Franco one year ago.
 
“At a time when far-right extremism is on the rise around the world, the United States must be standing up for universal values like tolerance and respect for human rights. Rather than rolling out the red carpet for Bolsonaro, the United States must call on Brazil’s president to respect the human rights of all Brazilians and to abide by his country’s commitments to advancing environmental protections and indigenous rights under international treaties.”

Permalink: https://progressives.house.gov/2019/3/progressive-caucus-members-condemn-trumps-embrace-of-brazils-bolsonaro

Congressional Progressive Caucus