Event: My Faith in Anti-Racist – in Defense of All Black Lives

Interreligious and ecumenical act marks one month of the brutal murder of Beto Freitas; an event held by black movement, religious and human rights organizations

This Sunday (20th), black movement, including religious and human rights organizations carry out the interfaith and ecumenical; My Faith is Anti-Racist – in Defense of All Black Lives.

The date marks a month of the brutal murder of José Alberto Freitas and resumes the call made by the black social movement on November 20 for a real and concrete anti-racist commitment, which should not only be reactivated when a black person is the victim of a nefarious act of racism; i.e. the elimination of your life.

The cry for justice for João Alberto is also coin as a cry for the protection of children´s lives, as well as young people, both black men and women. A historical outcry from the voices of black social movements that culminated in the publication of the Manifesto in June this year themed: “As long as there is RACISM, there will be no DEMOCRACY”, which is articulated by the Black Coalition for Rights, as a political document that requires the commitment of Brazilian society to the end of continuous process of genocide of the black population.

The organizations articulated in the mobilization of this act understand that what happened on November 19, 2020 cannot be easily forgotten. The devastating images of the murder of João Alberto Silveira Freitas; in one of the Carrefour chain supermarket, in the city of Porto Alegre, cannot be used only for a punctual and episodic commotion but must also be remembered as the most concrete face of the process of dehumanization of the Brazilian black population, a scenario for which we need to say, ENOUGH!

We also understand that resounding ENOUGH must be enunciated not only by black men and women who were directly affected by the trauma caused by João Alberto’s mean, cruel and inhuman death. It must likewise be noted that this indignation cannot be helped from the comfort of white racial privilege, where fathers, mothers and grandparents of non-black people need not worry when their children, grandchildren and loved ones go to a supermarket or go out to carry out their daily activities. It is of utmost importance that the continuity of the brutal logic of eliminating black bodies, causing death and letting black people be killed, as with Beto, generates a moral and ethical crisis that lead to the confrontation of structural racism.

Currently, the organizations that call for the ´ My Faith Is Anti-Racist´ act understand that it is past time to break a silence that is complicit and shameful. We are therefore enjoined to join forces with the articulations of the black social movements, in the likes of; The Black Coalition for Rights, and jointly demand the concreteness of anti-racist stances in every corner of Brazil.

On this 20th of December, religious entities of different faiths and human rights organizations from all over Brazil, summon faithful and Brazilian citizens committed to social justice, to express their indignation at the genocide of the black population. We also call on Brazilian society to follow the voices of black social activists in Porto Alegre, which together with João Alberto’s loved ones and friends, will express their non-conformity and indignation in front of Carrefour Passo D`Areia at 3 pm, same day.

It´s expected that the family members of João Alberto Silveira Freitas will participate in these mobilizations, alongside leaders of the black movement in Porto Alegre and entities operating at the national level. In a strong demonstration of solidarity, the celebration will also count on religious leaders in the likes of; Bàbá Diba de Iyemonjá; representing the Terreiro People’s Council of the State of Rio Grande do Sul,  Ìyá Sandrali de Oxum; representing Axé Women from the National Network of Afro Brazilian Religions and Health,  Bishop Dom Zanoni Demettino Castro; representing the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB), Nun Coen; representing the Zen Buddhist Community, Rabbi Ruben Sternschein, of the Congregação Israelita Paulista (CIP), and Lutheran pastor Cibele Kuss; representing the Inter-religious and Ecumenical Forum for Democracy / RS

The transmission of this important moment will take place on the media of the Black Coalition for Rights, which will be broadcast on the social networks of the entities that organize this event.

The `My Faith is Anti–Racist` act marks the beginning of a permanent mobilization (with monthly gatherings), involving different sectors of Brazilian society in the construction of another celebration, on March 21, 2021; International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

 

Order of Event;

Interreligious and Ecumenical Celebration
My Faith is Anti-Racist – In Defense of Black Lives
Justice for Beto, for Jane, for all black lives!
December 20, 2020 – 11am on the Black Coalition for Rights networks (Twitter and Facebook)

They summon the act:

Article 19
Cenarab – National Center for Africanity and Afro-Brazilian Resistance
CIP – Congregation (association) of Israelites in Paulista
CNBB – National Conference of Bishops of Brazil / Afro-Brazilian Pastors
Black Coalition for Rights
ARNS Commission
Conectas Human Rights
CONIC – National Council of Christian Churches of Brazil
Terreiro People’s Council of the State of Rio Grande do Sul
FIRE – RS Inter-religious and Ecumenical Forum
FLD – Lutheran Foundation of Deacons
Front of Evangelicals by the Rule of Law
IBD – Brazilian Institute of Diversity