After threats, Anielle Franco asks for an escort and calls the Ministry of Justice

The Minister of Racial Equality, Anielle Franco, called the Ministry of Justice this Thursday (28) to investigate threats received on social media and via the department’s institutional email. The hate attacks on the minister intensified after the episode in which one of the department’s advisors criticized São Paulo and São Paulo residents in posts. The ministry reported that Franco fears for his own physical integrity and requested protection and escort until the attacks end.

Last Sunday (24), the minister went to fulfill her agenda at the Brazilian Cup final, in São Paulo, where she signed an agreement to combat racism together with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). One of the advisors who accompanied Franco, Marcelle Decothé, stated on social media: “White fans, who don’t sing, descendants of naughty Europeans… Worse, all from São Paulo.” Furthermore, the advisor called the Flamengo board “fascist” and complained about the Federal Police (PF).

On Tuesday afternoon (26), the ministry announced that Decothé had been dismissed from her position. In one of the messages attached to the letter sent to the Ministry of Justice, a user curses the minister and says: “I hope the sister has the same end…this is São Paulo, you dirty cow”, the column reported Panelfrom the Folha de S. Paulo. Anielle is the sister of councilor Marielle Franco, shot dead in Rio de Janeiro along with her driver Anderson Gomes, in 2018.

According to the ministry, the minister “has been suffering threats to her life, physical and psychological integrity, as well as being a victim of racism.” “It is very painful to receive death threats and violence for being a woman in politics and realizing that since my sister, nothing has changed. This investigation is important so that we can continue with our work and the construction of public policies for the Brazilian people. That’s what I work for every day,” said the minister.