The Public Ministry of Rio Grande do Sul (MPRS) denounced, on Tuesday (28), the councilor of Caxias do Sul, Sandro Fantinel (without party) for racism. On February 28, in a session of the Chamber, Fantinel delivered a racist and xenophobic speech against workers from Bahia rescued from conditions analogous to slavery in wineries in Bento Gonçalves. In addition to the complaint, the MPRS asked for the loss of the councilor’s public function and that the Judiciary set compensation to be paid by the politician to repair the collective moral damage caused.
For the prosecutor Vanessa da Silva, the politician used the tribune of the Chamber of Councilors to practice, induce and incite discrimination and prejudice of national origin, especially against Bahians and Northeasterners, generating humiliation, embarrassment, shame and undue exposure to an indeterminate number of people.
:: Slave labor has tripled in Rio Grande do Sul since 2021, say MTE auditors ::
According to the magistrate, the councilor also discriminated against Bahian and Northeastern cultures by making pejorative references to the use of musical instruments, in particular, the drum. “At a certain point in his speech, the politician advised businessmen and producers in the region to hire Argentines, not Bahians, inciting, once again, discrimination,” she said.
The prosecutor used a transcription of an excerpt from the councilor’s speech in the complaint: “Guys, I’m just going to give you some advice. Farmers, producers, agricultural companies that are currently accompanying me. I’m going to give you some advice: don’t hire those people from above anymore. Talk to me, let’s create a line and let’s hire Argentines, because all the farmers who have Argentines working today just clap their hands. They are clean, hardworking, correct, keep the hours, keep the house clean and on the day they leave they even thank the boss (…). Nowhere in the State, in agriculture, has there been a problem with Argentines or with a group of Argentines. Now, with the people of Bahia, whose only culture is living on the beach playing drums, it was normal for people to have this kind of problem. So I mean, let it go, let it go. Let this be a lesson. Leave aside those people who are used to carnival and parties so you don’t get upset (…)”.
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In addition to the prosecutor who filed the complaint, the act was attended by the coordinator of the Criminal Operational Support Center and Public Security of the MPRS, Rodrigo da Silva Brandalise, who represented the Higher Administration.
On March 2, the Chamber of Councilors of Caxias do Sul (RS) unanimously accepted the councilor’s impeachment requests.
The complaint against the councilor was detailed in a press conference held this Tuesday afternoon at the Caxias do Sul Public Prosecutor’s Office.
:: MPT-RS proposes that the company pay R$600,000 in compensation to rescued workers ::
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Source: BdF Rio Grande do Sul
Editing: Marcelo Ferreira
