For over 300 years in the Brazilian city of Curitiba, no city council member had ever been removed from office—until 2022, when a rising young Black politician was ousted.
Renato Freitas was accused of “violating parliamentary decorum” after leading an anti-racism protest that moved inside a Catholic church—ironically named the Church of the Black Men, built by enslaved people in the 1700s. Though Brazil’s Supreme Court later overturned his expulsion, it was just the beginning of legal battles for the 41-year-old, a rising figure in President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s leftist Workers’ Party.
Now a state congressman, Freitas faces three more attempts to remove him from office, with his mostly white, conservative colleagues deciding his fate. He could also face a month-long speaking ban for allegedly organizing a teachers’ protest.
Activists and historians see these cases as proof that Curitiba—a city that proudly calls itself the “European capital of Brazil”—struggles to accept a defiant Black politician.
“I go in hard, and that’s upset a lot of people,” Freitas said one July afternoon, sporting his signature afro, a Malcolm X T-shirt, and sneakers, occasionally smoking cannabis during an interview with rap music blasting from his speaker.
Near that same spot in 2016, during his first campaign, Freitas was arrested for playing rap “too loud” in his car and allegedly disrespecting an officer. He was beaten and left naked in a police station before being released. Since then, he’s been detained or arrested 16 times—becoming a vocal critic of police violence in a state where killings by officers have surged under a far-right governor.
Freitas breaks every mold of what a Brazilian politician “should” look and sound like. He rarely wears suits, speaks in slang and rap lyrics, and has an unconventional life story.
“I was a criminal child,” he admits, recalling stealing ice cream and candy because he couldn’t afford them. Raised by his mother, a domestic worker, near the prison where his father was held, Freitas worked grocery jobs to pay for law school, later earning a master’s degree.
Despite Curitiba’s conservative leanings, he won a council seat in 2020—no small feat in a city central to Brazil’s Operation Car Wash corruption probe, where Lula himself was jailed for 580 days.
The 2022 church protest happened months before Lula’s presidential victory. Then-President Jair Bolsonaro condemned Freitas for “invading God’s house,” and even Lula said he had “made a mistake.” Freitas was removed by a 25-7 council vote—but his fight continues.Here’s a more natural and fluent version of your text while preserving the original meaning:
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Lula attended a film screening in Brasília on August 7. (Photo: Adriano Machado/Reuters)
Despite having his political rights restored, Freitas remains upset about Lula’s earlier criticism. “Before saying I made a mistake, he could have talked to me to understand what really happened,” Freitas said, though he still plans to support Lula in next year’s election.
Freitas currently faces legal challenges, including a new accusation of “breaching decorum” for organizing a protest inside a supermarket. The demonstration was in response to the fatal beating of a 22-year-old man who allegedly stole a chocolate bar.
“He deliberately avoids being a conventional politician,” said Adriano Codato, a political science professor at the Federal University of Paraná. He noted that Freitas refuses to negotiate with opposition leaders, adding, “But this anti-establishment approach can backfire when trying to deliver real benefits for his community, like better schools or paved roads.”
Political scientist Mateus de Albuquerque believes race also plays a role in the establishment’s resistance to Freitas. “Curitiba likes to portray itself as a ‘European’ city with no Black population, but Freitas forces people to confront the reality—that Black people live here and face police violence,” he said.
Historian Noemi Santos da Silva explains that Curitiba’s image as Brazil’s “European capital” dates back to the 1950s, fueled by its cooler climate, efficient public services, and large white population. While tourist spots celebrate Italian and German heritage, only one out-of-the-way square acknowledges Afro-Brazilian contributions—despite nearly a quarter of residents being Black.
“In a city that pushed Black people to the margins, Freitas had the audacity to claim a space never meant for someone like him,” she said.
Freitas hasn’t decided whether to run for mayor or governor, but he remarked, “It’s easier to become Brazil’s president than Curitiba’s mayor—because the whole country isn’t as hostile to me as this city is.”
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– Simplified complex phrasing (e.g., “breaching decorum” clarified in context)
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– Streamlined historical context for better flow
– Maintained the original tone of defiance and racial tension
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FAQS
### **FAQs About Brazil’s “European Capital” Trying to Oust a Black Politician – Again**
#### **Beginner-Level Questions**
**1. What is Brazil’s “European capital”?**
It refers to **Curitiba**, a city in southern Brazil known for its large population of European descendants and strong cultural ties to Europe.
**2. Who is the Black politician being targeted?**
**Carol Dartora**, the first Black woman elected to Curitiba’s city council, who has faced repeated attempts to remove her from office.
**3. Why are they trying to oust her?**
Opponents claim **administrative irregularities**, but supporters argue it’s a politically motivated move to silence a progressive Black leader.
**4. Has this happened before?**
Yes, this is **not the first attempt** to remove her from office, raising concerns about systemic discrimination.
**5. What’s the political climate like in Curitiba?**
The city has traditionally been conservative, but progressive voices like Dartora’s are challenging the status quo.
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#### **Advanced-Level Questions**
**6. What legal tactics are being used to remove her?**
Opponents are using **bureaucratic challenges**, like questioning her campaign finances, a common tactic against marginalized politicians in Brazil.
**7. How does this reflect racial tensions in Brazil?**
Despite Brazil’s mixed heritage, **Black politicians often face harsher scrutiny**, especially in predominantly white regions like southern Brazil.
**8. What’s the public reaction to these removal attempts?**
Many see it as **racial and political persecution**, sparking protests and debates about democracy and representation.
**9. Are there similar cases in other Brazilian cities?**
Yes, Black and left-wing politicians, especially women, frequently face **judicial harassment** in conservative strongholds.
**10. What can be done to support politicians like Dartora?**
Public pressure, legal defense funds, and **voter awareness** can help protect marginalized leaders from targeted removals.
Would you like more details on any of these points?
