16.05.2019 - 02:16 [ Youtube ]

Dallas City Council, LGBTQ Groups To Protest Visit From Brazil‘s Bolsonaro

Another visit to the United States will likely bring another round of protests and official rebukes of far-right Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro, as American activists and lawmakers opposed to his his racist, sexist, homophobic and environmentally destructive policies attempt to make him persona non grata in the U.S. Seven members and members-elect of the Dallas city council blasted Bolsonaro before he arrived in the city on Wednesday, urging the organizations behind the Brazilian president’s visit to cancel scheduled events with a leader who, they said in a letter, “represents a deep disdain for democracy and civil society.” The councilmembers urged the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth ― a nonprofit group that hosts international leaders and events on global affairs and will hold an event with Bolsonaro ― to cancel his appearance. “Providing President Bolsonaro a platform dangerously normalizes his authoritarianism and shows tacit support for his discriminatory actions, words, and policy positions,” the councilmembers said in the letter. “President Bolsonaro does not reflect the values of the City of Dallas.” Scott Griggs, a city councilman who helped organize the letter, said Bolsonaro’s visit represented “a terrible step backward” for Dallas. “Dallas is a welcoming city built on love,” Griggs, who is running for mayor this year, told HuffPost by phone Wednesday. “Welcoming Bolsonaro sends the wrong message not only to our city but to our state, our country and the world.”