Leroy Pena of the Red Handed Warrior Society and former Eastfield College graduate confronts counter-protesters outside the Old Parkland building in Dallas on May 16. Protesters were vocal about President Bolsonaro's stance on issues such as education, LGBTQ rights and environmental welfare. Photo by Anthony Lazon/The Et Cetera
Approximately 200 protesters gathered outside the Old Parkland building in Downtown Dallas on Thursday, May 16, to protest Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s stance on environmental policy, education and LGBTQ rights.
Human rights organizations across the world have vocalized their concerns about Bolsonaro’s militant approach to his presidency, as well as the derogatory comments made by the Brazilian president about members of the LGBTQ community and indigenous peoples in Brazil.
Only hours after taking office, Bolsonaro signed an executive order transferring the regulation and creation of new indigenous reserves to the agriculture ministry, which sparked outrage among indigenous communities in the Amazon who fear deforestation will come as a result.
Bolsonaro’s administration has also made sharp cuts in funding to education, which led to massive protests in Brazil on the day of the Brazilian president’s arrival to Dallas.
The Brazilian president was set to receive an award for “Person of the Year” by the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce in New York City. The event was canceled after much outcry from human rights organizations as well as Mayor Bill de Blasio, who called Bolsonaro “a dangerous man.” The event was then moved to Dallas.
—Compiled by Anthony Lazon
Scot Godfrey (in red), a student at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma made the trip to Dallas on Thursday, May 16, to protest Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro at the Old Parkland building. President Bolsonaro received an award by the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce for “Person of the Year.” Photo by Anthony Lazon/The Et Cetera
A counter-protest of President Jair Bolsonaro’s critics made their way toward the protest staged outside the Old Parkland building on May 16. Brazilian President Bolsonaro has come under fire for comments against the LGBTQ community and his stance on the use of force against indigenous people in Brazil. Photo by Anthony Lazon/The Et Cetera
Scot Godfrey (left in red) was vocal about his disapproval of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. President Bolsonaro was scheduled to receive the “Person of the Year” award in New York City. After heavy criticism from several organizations and Mayor Bill De Blasio, the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce decided to move the location to Dallas on May 16. Photo by Anthony Lazon/The Et Cetera
Leroy Pena of the Red Handed Warrior Society and former Eastfield College graduate confronts counter-protesters outside the Old Parkland building in Dallas on May 16. Protesters were vocal about President Bolsonaro’s stance on issues such as education, LGBTQ rights and environmental welfare. Photo by Anthony Lazon/The Et Cetera
Two members of the counter-protest blocked the sun as Gary Bellamy (black) and Romildo Ferreira (yellow) lie on the ground outside the Old Parkland building on Thursday, May 16. Bellamy’s act of lying on the ground was meant to block the entrance of the Old Parkland building. Ferreira lied next to Bellamy as an act of solidarity throughout the protest. Photo by Anthony Lazon/The Et Cetera
Arthur Ferreira shouts back at the protesters that had gathered outside the Old Parkland building in protest of the arrival of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to Dallas on Thursday, May 16. Photo by Anthony Lazon/The Et Cetera
Romildo Ferreira, a Bolsonaro supporter, pretends to block the sun from activist Gary Bellamy at a protest against Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in Dallas on Thursday, May 16. Bolsonaro is the far-right president of Brazil who has come under fire from different human rights organizations due to his controversial comments. Photo by Anthony Lazon/The Et Cetera
People protesting against the arrival of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and supporters of the Brazilian president engaged in a friendly exchange as the scheduled protest wrapped up outside the Old Parkland building in Dallas on Thursday, May 16. Photo by Anthony Lazon/The Et Cetera
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