{"id":27301,"date":"2016-03-08T08:11:07","date_gmt":"2016-03-08T11:11:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rioonwatch.org\/?p=27301"},"modified":"2016-03-24T12:03:14","modified_gmt":"2016-03-24T15:03:14","slug":"celebrating-the-warrior-women-of-vila-autodromo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=27301","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating the Warrior Women of Vila Aut\u00f3dromo"},"content":{"rendered":"

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas\"\"<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Today, March 8, in celebration of International Women\u00b4s Day, we celebrate\u00a0some of the many warrior women\u00a0of Vila Aut\u00f3dromo<\/a> who have been battling against the City\u00a0for more than five years to save their land, their community, their homes and their families from eviction<\/a> due to the construction works for the 2016 Rio Olympics<\/a>.<\/p>\n

These women have stepped out of their perceived role as caretakers and nurturers and entered the frontline of a battlefield, as warriors who face what often\u00a0feels like a never ending war.<\/p>\n

Alongside their participation in community activities, such as the production and updating\u00a0of the\u00a0Vila Aut\u00f3dromo People\u00b4s Plan<\/a>, an award-winning<\/a> upgrading project that demonstrates they can live together with the Olympics<\/a>, a community\u00a0breakfast<\/a> hosted to seek greater recognition of their struggle\u00a0and cultural festivals<\/a> inviting supporters to celebrate their resistance<\/a>, the women of Vila Aut\u00f3dromo show\u00a0individual, unique examples of leadership.<\/p>\n

Jane Nascimento<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Jane<\/p>\n

\u201cHomes are not built with money, they are built with love.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Jane Nascimento has been\u00a0an important spokeswoman and leader for her community for many years<\/a>, speaking out not just at community events but also alongside social movements<\/a> city-wide. In May 2015 she gave testimony to the Human Rights Commission of the Rio de Janeiro State Legislative Assembly (ALERJ).<\/p>\n

In August 2015, after a decade-long battle with the City, Jane, a mother, worker and community leader, was forced to leave her home<\/a> in Vila Aut\u00f3dromo stating: \u201cI will leave my house, but I will not leave the struggle.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jane’s\u00a0reluctant departure was due to a number of painful conditions. She\u00a0suffered through the violent eviction process and faced psychological pressures<\/a>, living in rubble and between the torn down homes of her neighbors. Finally, the City’s eminent domain decree targeted her home, among others, leaving her no option.<\/p>\n

Her physical removal from the community, however, did not weaken her fight. Since her relocation, Jane has continued to be\u00a0an active voice for Vila Aut\u00f3dromo\u2019s resistance. She participates in community meetings, protests and has been a community representative for a number of panel discussions on Olympic Rio and housing rights<\/a>, including at the Museu da Rep\u00fablica in October 2015<\/a> and the Get\u00falio Vargas Foundation in November 2015<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Jane’s unwavering commitment to her community’s resistance is expressed every time she takes to the microphone. She\u00a0reaffirmed this once again\u00a0on February 24 when\u00a0the community\u2019s Neighborhood\u00a0Association was demolished<\/a>: \u201cI will continue fighting, my house fell but my fight has not ended.\u201d<\/p>\n

Heloisa Helena Costa Berto – Luizinha of Na\u00f1a<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"Heloisa<\/a><\/p>\n

Heloisa Helena<\/a>, known also by her Candombl\u00e9 name Luizinha of Na\u00f1a, lived in her home in Vila Aut\u00f3dromo for 36 years. Built by the Jacarepagu\u00e1 Lagoon, her home was also a Candombl\u00e9<\/a>\u00a0spiritual center. In her moving\u00a0open letter<\/a> published\u00a0by RioOnWatch<\/em> in September 2015 she relays that\u00a0\u201cthe physical construction of a Candombl\u00e9 house is difficult, mainly because there is much going on, such as having to help people in need of spiritual work and of basic material necessities at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Heloisa fought for the negotiation and relocation of her house and spiritual center, suffering with\u00a0the intensification of existing medical conditions: \u201cFor two years, I have not been living, I have been fighting. My body has been taken over by chronic pains as a result of the surgery, eight screws, two plates, lack of treatment due to lack of time or emotional stress.\u201d But she explained that this isn’t even the worst part. Her departure from the community and religious site has left her feeling \u201cempty on the inside, deprived, invaded, violated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Heloisa visited Bras\u00edlia last year to\u00a0participate in a public hearing with the Senate Human Rights Commission<\/a>. In recognition of her fight, she received the Pedro Ernesto Award<\/a>, the most important honor given by the Rio de Janeiro House of Representatives, as well as the Dandara Medal<\/a> given by the Rio de Janeiro Legislative Assembly.<\/p>\n

<\/i>Despite her medical problems and increasing pressures,\u00a0Heloisa still fights and strives for justice. In her second letter<\/a> published by RioOnWatch<\/em> last month she outlined the terror of receiving death threats. She wrote:\u00a0\u201cSince my community always gives me strength to speak, a cry for freedom came from me. I told the community that I was being threatened. They gave me strength and I started to fight again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Heloisa’s home and spiritual center was demolished<\/a> by the City on February 24. On March 3, Heloisa shared a video on her Facebook page<\/a> alongside text that wrote:<\/p>\n

\u201cThey demolished the house of Na\u00f1a, but Na\u00f1a didn\u2019t fall. The physical house of Na\u00f1a was demolished. We are all traumatized at the moment, with the profound disrespect demonstrated against my social class and my religion. I heard [from City officials at the time of demolition] with suffering\u2013that my house was trash, that the house\u00a0of Na\u00f1a was to be trashed. But I am here and I am not leaving until I have a piece of land for Na\u00f1a. I fight for Vila Aut\u00f3dromo, we are strong and our fight continues. Our voice says upgrade now!<\/a>“<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Sandra Maria<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"Sandra<\/a><\/p>\n

Sandra Maria is a mother of four children aged between 11 and 20 who has become an active voice and face of Vila Aut\u00f3dromo’s resistance\u00a0in recent months.<\/p>\n

In November last year, Sandra welcomed the Rio Urban Agriculture Network\u00a0and students from PUC University into Vila Aut\u00f3dromo taking the groups around and educating them in the community\u2019s ongoing battle. She reflected on the community where her four children grew up, where \u201ceveryone knew everyone,\u201d where they were \u201cfree\u201d and \u201cvery safe,\u201d where they have their life story.<\/p>\n

Sandra highlighted: \u201cA major part of the community is the women. The women think about everything and everyone. What\u2019s going to happen and what the solutions will be.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the past couple of months Sandra Maria has stepped up and become a voice for the community,\u00a0featuring in a TIME<\/em> Magazine article<\/a>\u00a0and the Popular Committee’s video<\/a> denouncing Eduardo Paes’ claims against their work.<\/p>\n

Last week Vila Aut\u00f3dromo shared a video<\/a> on their Facebook page in which Sandra reflected on the tense recent weeks in Vila Aut\u00f3dromo. Evidently tired from the ongoing stress, she recounted the government\u2019s more recent psychological pressures<\/a> and efforts to diminish what\u00a0remains of the community and thanked all those who support Vila Aut\u00f3dromo in their battle.<\/p>\n

Alongside fellow residents and supporters, Sandra affirms that Vila Aut\u00f3dromo will continue to resist.\u00a0At the recent demolition of the Neighborhood Association<\/a> she said:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe history of Vila Aut\u00f3dromo isn\u00b4t so easily removed\u2026 When these (luxury) buildings that Mr. Carlos Carvalho says he will build are constructed here, we will be here. The image of today, all of these images that have been documented here, including beatings of residents, all this will still exist.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Maria de Penha<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"Maria<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI will not give up 22 years of history for 15 days of Olympic Games.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Although her petite frame and humble personality might not show it, Maria da Penha, commonly known just as Penha, is one of Vila Autodromo’s boldest and bravest\u00a0activists.<\/p>\n

On June 3 2015, riot police were sent into Vila Aut\u00f3dromo\u00a0to forcibly evict residents<\/a> in a shocking lightning eviction<\/a>. Police used rubber bullets, pepper spray and batons during a physical attack on\u00a0residents which left Penha with a broken nose and seriously injured.<\/p>\n

Nine months since the injury, Penha fights stronger than ever. Her home is one of the few houses that still remain in Vila Aut\u00f3dromo. The\u00a0extreme threat<\/a>\u00a0of the past two weeks has turned to certain demolition, today in fact. As we click ‘publish’ Penha’s home is circled by Municipal Guards.<\/p>\n

On February 21\u00a0she welcomed around 30 community supporters\u00a0into her home to camp out in preparation for an early morning demolition<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019ll stay on my feet,\u201d she said, paying more attention to her guests’ needs than her own. \u201cEven if the house falls, I will stay on my feet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Penha, who has lived in the community for 23 years, insists that no amount of money can compensate her house, her community, her memories: \u201cYour house is not just a house, it’s a story of your life,\u201d she affirms.<\/p>\n

Nathalia Silva<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"Nathalia<\/a><\/p>\n

Maria da Penha’s daughter Nathalia has recently joined\u00a0her mother on\u00a0the frontline of Vila Aut\u00f3dromo’s resistance battle with her bold attitude and strong, persuasive speech<\/a>, representing a new generation of resistance within Vila Aut\u00f3dromo and beyond.<\/p>\n

Nathalia maintains a\u00a0positive vision for change and the permanence in the community where she was born and raised:\u00a0\u201cWhat the community needs… is urban reconstruction and basic infrastructure.\u201d She and her fellow women warriors believe the Mayor must keep his word<\/a> and upgrade the remaining 50 homes in the community. She envisions<\/a> a\u00a0cultural center, a medical center and a nursery for the future community. \u201cThese will not only help our community but surrounding communities\u2014it will be of collective benefit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vila Aut\u00f3dromo’s women are not just fighting for just themselves, their family or their community. They are also fighting for all communities that face oppression and eviction around the world. Nathalia affirms:<\/p>\n

“I have already seen how similar our story is to what is happening to other communities\u2026 Even in other states, other countries, too. There are too many stories of people going through the same pain we are going through here… Our resistance moves them to continue their own resistance.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas Today, March 8, in celebration of International Women\u00b4s Day, we celebrate\u00a0some of the many warrior women\u00a0of Vila Aut\u00f3dromo who have been battling against the City\u00a0for more than five years to save […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":95,"featured_media":27367,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1293,1854,1736,1288,1290,1284,1329],"tags":[9,1913,756,258,11,436,282,26,25,1963,129,1259,5,1292,270,268,4,21],"writer":[1807],"translator":[],"illustrator":[],"photographer":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-27301","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-evictionswatch","8":"category-housingwatch","9":"category-1736","10":"category-highlight","11":"category-civilsociety","12":"category-interviews-profiles","13":"category-by-international-observers","14":"tag-9","15":"tag-amnesty-international","16":"tag-community-organizing","17":"tag-community-solution","18":"tag-forced-evictions","19":"tag-gender","20":"tag-housing","21":"tag-housing-rights","22":"tag-human-rights","23":"tag-international-womens-day","24":"tag-leadership","25":"tag-mega-events","26":"tag-olympics","27":"tag-organizing","28":"tag-resistance","29":"tag-state-violence","30":"tag-vila-autodromo","31":"tag-west-zone","32":"writer-clare-huggins"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27301","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/95"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=27301"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27301\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/27367"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=27301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=27301"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=27301"},{"taxonomy":"writer","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fwriter&post=27301"},{"taxonomy":"translator","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftranslator&post=27301"},{"taxonomy":"illustrator","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fillustrator&post=27301"},{"taxonomy":"photographer","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fphotographer&post=27301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}