The MPF (Federal Public Ministry) filed a collective civil action against the Union to hold it responsible for official demonstrations by the Brazilian Navy considered offensives to the memory of João Cândido Felisbertoleader of the Revolt of the Whip. The body asks the Federal Court to sentence the Union to pay R$5 million for collective moral damage.
According to the MPF, the amount must be allocated exclusively projects and actions aimed at appreciation of the memory of João Cândido and its historical legacy.
Among the facts cited in the action is the sending, in April 2024, of a letter from the Navy commander to the Culture Committee of the Chamber of Deputies. In the document, the official expressed opposition to the bill that proposes the inscription by João Cândido in the Book of Heroes and Heroines of the Fatherland.
In the same manifestation, the Revolt of the Whip is classified as a “deplorable page in national history” and one “obnoxious fact”in addition to attributing negative characteristics to the sailors who participated in the movement.
In light of these statements, the MPF issued a recommendation that the Navy refrain from carrying out acts that violated João Cândido’s memory. The official response, however, stated that there were no measures to be taken. The argument was that the demonstrations would only reflect the “historical perspective” of the institution.
According to the Federal Public Ministry, the action seeks prevent new demonstrations that discredit the trajectory and historical legacy of João Cândido. In a statement, the MPF states that the Navy’s statements contravene the law that granted amnesty to João Cândido and the other participants in the revolt, which occurred in 1910.
A CNN Brazil tried to contact the Brazilian Navy, and is awaiting a response. The space remains open for demonstrations.
*Under the supervision of Jorge Fernando Rodrigues
