For the original article in Portuguese published by Agência de Notícias das Favelas click here.
Julho Negro (“Black July”) is a joint international event against militarization and racism around the world. This year, it is being held from July 23–27 in Rio de Janeiro with participants from over fifteen countries, including Palestine, Chile, Colombia, South Africa, the United States, Argentina, and India, among others. The objective is to provide a forum for these movements to denounce the ways by which these States have treated the impoverished in each territory.
Julho Negro is organized by mothers who have lost their children to police violence, as well as broader favela movements in Rio de Janeiro. In previous years, Julho Negro connected with organizations such as Black Lives Matter in the United States and mothers and relatives of victims from Palestine, Mexico and the Association of Haitians in Brazil. All of the activities will be held in favelas in Rio de Janeiro.
Schedule of Events: July 23–27 in Rio de Janeiro
July 23 at 12 p.m. – Julho Negro supports the March in Defense of Life organized by the Candelária, Never Again Movement. Meeting point: Candelária Church starting at 11:30 a.m.
July 24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Visit to the Terra Prometida Settlement of the Landless Workers Movement (MST) in Nova Iguaçu – a day of experiences.
July 25 – Maré Museum (Address: Avenida Guilherme Maxwel, 26 – Maré / near Overpass 7 on Avenida Brasil)
*10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Conversation: Body and Care Among Families Affected by State Violence with Ivanir Mendes, Network of Communities and Movements Against Violence/Front for De-Incarceration; Irene, Health Network; Kaká Silveira, Network of Mothers of Belo Horizonte; Maria Dalva Correia, Network of Communities and Movements Against Violence; Ana Lúcia de Oliveira, Network of Communities and Movements Against Violence/Health Network; Márcia Jacintho, Network of Communities and Movements Against Violence (to be confirmed); Marliza Barbosa, resident of Duque de Caixas; Glória Cecília Silva, public school teacher from Duque de Caixas; Elaine Savi, Fiocruz (to be confirmed). Mediated by Mariana Ferreira, Network of Communities and Movements Against Violence/Health Network; and Anderson Caboi, Maré 0800/Health Network.
*12:30 p.m. – Lunch/Workshop: Flavor and Knowledge Exchange (healthy food) with Ivanir Mendes, Network of Communities and Movements Against Violence.
*1 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Workshop: Care Practices in the Context of Violence and Racism. Facilitators: sociologist Rachel Barros, Manguinhos Social Forum/FASE; Suellen Guariento, State University of Rio de Janeiro; Beth Pacheco, Health Network; and Gabriel, Health Network/resident of Ramos.
*5 p.m. – Healthy Snack and Tea with Ivanir Mendes, Network of Communities and Movements Against Violence.
*6 p.m. – Roundtable: Human Rights Defenders on the Day of the Struggle of Black Latina and Caribbean Women. Guests: Lívia Vidal of Women of Stone; Maria Elena, human rights professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro; Anielle Franco, sister of Marielle Franco; Sahar Francis, director of Addameer – Palestinian Association of Human Rights and Support to Prisoners; and Soledad Vasquez of the Mexican Observatory of Peoples’ Human Rights. Mediated by community journalist Gizele Martins.
July 26 – Morro da Providência and Complexo do Alemão
*10 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Rolé dos Favelados with Cosme Felippsen in Morro da Providência. Meeting point: MacDonalds at Central do Brasil train station, 9:30 a.m.
*1 p.m. – Favela Cuisine at Bar da Jura (Praça Américo Brum – Morro da Providência). The lunch costs 15 reais.
*5 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Black Favela Resistance Cinema at Praça Verde (Address: Avenida Central, 68 – Complexo do Alemão).
Film Screenings:
Our Dead Have a Voice– Documentary, 28 minutes.
Synopsis: The narrative of the documentary stems from the testimony of family members and victims of state violence in the Baixada Fluminense. Taking violence as a starting point–but not limited to the crudeness of the violence practiced–the short film intends to focus on stories experienced through these losses. Based on testimonies of family members and archival images, the aim is to revive memories of these broken lives by bringing a critical view of police action in the Baixada Fluminense, especially with regard to violence against black youth.
Directed by: Fernando Souza and Gabriel Barbosa
Produced by: Quiprocó Films
Organized by: Fórum Grita Baixada and the Human Rights Center of Nova Iguaçu
Who Killed Gilberto? – Documentary, 4 minutes.
Synopsis: Another young man lies dead on the ground in the favela after an intense shootout between the Armed Forces and traffickers in Rio de Janeiro. The people protest!
Directed by: Josinaldo Medeiros
Produced by: Na Favela
Sweet Dreams – Documentary, 20 minutes.
Synopsis: This fictional documentary addresses mother-child relationships and the difficulties of subsistence for black, geographically and socially peripheral families. With accounts from black mothers from favelas who tell their stories of resistance, loss, and taking a stance, the film (re)constructs an anachronistic narrative–familiar to all peoples of the black diaspora.
Directed by: Macário Silva and Arthur Pereira
Produced by: Audiovisual Production Training Workshop
Organized by: AfrOri Collective
After the exhibition, there will be a debate with Mônica Cunha of Movimento Moleque; Alan Brum of Instituto Raízes em Movimento; Fernando Souza, director of the film Nossos Mortos Têm Voz; and Josinaldo Medeiros, director of the film Quem Matou Gilberto? and member of the Campaign for the Freedom of Rafael Braga.
July 27 – National School of Law at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Address: Rua Moncorvo Filho, 8 – Centro)
*9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Popular Hearing: “From Latin America to Palestine – United Struggles Against Militarization”
*9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. – Opening: Maria Dalva da Silva (Brazil), Network of Communities and Movements against Violence; Jamal Juma (Palestine), Stop the Wall and the Palestinian National Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Committee; Nora Cortiñas (Argentina), founding member of Madres de Plaza de Mayo; and Sahar Vardi (Israel), human rights activist and coordinator of the American Friends Service Committee [Israel program]. Mediated by Glaucia Marinho, Justiça Global.
*11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. – The Latin American Context: Sonia Lopez (Colombia), Joel Sierra Human Rights Foundation; Francisco Gamez (Honduras), Committee of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH); Onésima Lienqueo (Chile), Mapuche organization Pichi Newen; and Daniela Gon (Mexico), Observatory of Peoples’ Human Rights. Mediated by Oscar Vargas, BDS Colombia.
*1:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. – The International Context: Gautam Navlakha (India), Popular Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR); Ari Belathar (US), Jewish Voice for Peace/Deadly Exchange; Alex Mdakane (South Africa), activist and former spokesperson for the Israeli Apartheid Week; and Eitay Mack (Israel), lawyer and human rights activist. Mediated by Maren Mantovani, Stop the Wall.
*15:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Closing Discussion: Sahar Francis (Palestine), Addameer; João Costa Filho (Brazil), Torture Never Again; Gizele Martins (Brazil), Julho Negro; Fransérgio Goulart (Brazil), Fórum Grita Baixada. Mediated by Marcelle Decothè, Rio de Janeiro Youth Forum.
*5 p.m. to 7 p.m. – Act Against Militarization and Racism in the World, gathering in front of the National School of Law at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
*7 p.m. – Launch of the project Papo Franco and soirée in honor of Marielle Franco, Elaine Freitas, [and Vera Lúcia dos Santos] at the Theater of the Oppressed Center (Address: Avenida Mem de Sá, 31 – Lapa).
