RIO DE JANEIRO (BRAZIL) – A public official who said he does not support the Black Lives Matter movement will be given permission to remain as head of Brazil’s government-funded institute of Black culture, as per the vote from high court on Wednesday.
A few public defenders argued Sergio Camargo had no legitimacy to run Fundaçao Cultural Palmares, an agency directed to uphold the cultural and economic rights of Brazilians. The unanimous decision by the Superior Court of Justice rejected their appeal.
Brazil’s right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro appointed Camargo, a Black journalist, as president of the Fundaçao Cultural Palmares last year.
Camargo had made comments from the start that racism did not exist in Brazil.
The ruling may affect Brazil’s quilombolas, descendants of African slaves who live in rural communities around the country.
Fundaçao Palmares did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field.