"The Feminist Resistance to the Radical Right in Brazil: A Forum of Four Brazilian Feminist Political Leaders"
Monday, January 28, 4-7pm
Booth Auditorium (Room 175), UCB School of Law
RSVP by Jan 15
On the eve of entering office, four female politicians are an emboldened, new generation of feminist officials at the forefront of defending and redefining democracy in Brazil. Building their trajectories out of local grassroots struggles, each has developed distinct approaches in their respective states. Ten months following the assassination of city councilwoman Marielle Franco, their collective work demonstrates that Marielle is still present. They will discuss feminism, formal politics, and innovative modes of resistance to the radical right turn in government. We will consider ways we can take action in solidarity.
RSVP: If you’d like to reserve a seat, please register on Eventbrite by Jan. 15th so we get a sense of numbers. Information on further events during their visit will be sent in January. You can also visit the Forum facebook page. The event will be largely in Portuguese but simultaneous interpretation will be provided, please sign up here if you will be needing interpretation (PT to EN).
Join us in this unprecedented opportunity to hear from and dialogue with 4 newly elected Brazilian politicians as they begin historic terms in office:
(1) Talíria Petrone (RJ), is one of the few Black women ever elected to Brazil's Federal Congress. She is a history teacher who sees education as the basis for resistance and for the construction of a new world: her struggle has always begun in the classroom and on the streets. A long-time ally of Marielle Franco, Petrone considers herself a Black socialist feminist and has steadily fought for women’s rights, universal public health and education, and against anti-Black genocide.
(2) Sâmia Bomfim (SP), was elected recently to Brazil's Federal Congress at the age of 27. In 2016, she became the youngest councilwoman in the capital of São Paulo, and rose to political prominence as she battled the proto-fascist youth movement MBL. Her activism has propelled her to lead one of the largest student movements in Brazil from the halls of the country's top university into the city streets as well as join the feminist battle to end rape culture.
(3) Jô Cavalcanti (PE), is a mother, Black woman, feminist and resident of Recife’s peripheries. Cavalcanti works in Recife's informal economy and was recently elected as a co-state representative in a movement called “Juntas” (Together). This movement placed 5 women on a ballot to collectively govern throughout their term and made history by electing the first trans woman to Pernambuco state government. Cavalcanti is also a national leader of the "workers without homes movement” (MTST), Brazil's largest urban social movement.
(4) Fernanda Melchionna (RS), was recently elected to the Brazilian Federal Congress, garnering the largest amount of votes of any elected official in Rio Grande do Sul. She began her activism at the age of 14 in the nation-wide struggles against the privatization of public services. First elected to public office at the age of 24, she continues to be one of the few and youngest female politicians elected to office. Melchionna sees herself as an internationalist, socialist and feminist militant whose career has been dedicated to fighting for women's rights and against the privileges of the wealthy.
Like this event and want to support it?
Thanks to our graduate student organizers, faculty sponsors, and generous co-sponsors, we have raised enough to cover travel and interpretation costs. If you’d like to support us in holding a reception afterward, please consider donating $5-50 via GoFundMe.
Co-sponsors:
UC Berkeley Departments of Anthropology, Gender & Women's Studies, Graduate School of Education, African American & African Diaspora Studies, Spanish & Portuguese, Comparative Literature; Tianna Paschel (research funds); Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS); Institute of International Studies (IIS); David and Natasha Dolby Fund; Global Metropolitan Studies; Institute for the Study of Societal Issues (ISSI); Center for Right Wing Studies; School of Law Human Rights Center; Townsend Center for the Humanities; Center for Race & Gender; Social Science Matrix; Stanford University; Global Urban Humanities Initiative.