Carnival groups in Belo Horizonte unite against Romeu Zema's stance.
"It's nothing new for public and private agents to try to claim responsibility for the popular festival," say the signatories of the manifesto.
247 - A manifesto signed by 56 carnival groups from Belo Horizonte criticizes Governor Romeu Zema's (Novo) stance regarding Carnival.
Under the slogan "For a pluralistic carnival with support for all," the document alleges that the governor of Minas Gerais is "trying to appropriate the image of a major promoter" of the carnival period.
According to the signatories of the manifesto, which will be delivered to the State Public Prosecutor's Office and the Public Defender's Office, Romeu Zema's actions seek to fuel disputes for electoral purposes.
Furthermore, the groups say that the government used resources intended to support cultural workers as a means of self-promotion, lacking transparency, fairness, and equality.
Read the full text below. MANIFESTO:
For a diverse carnival that fosters something for everyone.
Manifesto open for signatures from various groups. Signature form at the end.
The history of struggle and resistance of Belo Horizonte's carnival is as old as the city itself. From its origins at the hands of the Black workers who built the capital, through its community and peripheral existence, to the recent festive revival starting in 2009, the carnival experience in BH, as in Brazil, is popular culture. result of society's actionsIt turns out that public and private agents have been persistently trying to convey to the general public for some time now that they are responsible for the popular festival. Only not!
Unsurprisingly, since last year we have witnessed a two-way movement related to the financing of the capital's carnival: on one hand, the private sector's refusal to invest direct resources in the festival and, on the other, the state government, initially opposed to its realization, trying to capture the image of a major promoterOne movement feeding the other.
State investment in the BH carnival is a long-standing demand that has been neglected by the Zema government, even though official propaganda tries to convey the opposite. This neglect, however, has not prevented the carnival from emerging with force once again this year. In this context, the state government has been acting to fuel electoral disputes based on the festival, adopting a series of questionable practices.
The latest – and quite serious – incident was the stance taken by Governor Romeu Zema and his deputy, Mateus Simões, giving the military police free rein to act aggressively during Carnival. Practically a government encouragement of police abuse "Anyone who doesn't immediately obey the police will be pepper-sprayed, with the approval of the Minas Gerais government. This is a warning to all revelers," said the vice-governor in a video released to the press. We know well the preferred targets of pepper spray, rubber bullets, and tear gas. We list the other behaviors:
Second, they allocate resources from Cultural Incentive Laws in a targeted manner, resources that should, in fact, directly support cultural producers at the grassroots level. In other words, The state uses funds from a mechanism designed to support civil society for self-promotion. from resources originating from public companies.
3rd - They use these public resources without transparency and without mechanisms that guarantee equity and equality. to various segments of society. It's money managed by the State Secretariat of Culture and Tourism in a discretionary manner! Serious flaws that point to arbitrariness and even possible illegalities;
4th - They encourage the homogenization and centralization of the festival., investing heavily in the culture of the "parade route" event, to the detriment of festive diversity and its regionalization. A matter that has already been the subject of a complaint to the Public Prosecutor's Office;
5th - They seek to transform Carnival into a piece of tourist advertising, irresponsibly attracting a huge number of people to the festival. without considering the city's capacity to receive them., showing disrespect to residents and revelers.
In light of these facts and the self-serving disputes that are currently underway, The groups that have signed this manifesto publicly express their repudiation and demand...:
1) That the public funds allocated by the state government to the BH carnival be distributed through transparent and republican mechanisms, with universal access and respecting the cultural and regional diversity that characterizes the festival;
2) That the Public Prosecutor's Office of Minas Gerais investigate possible irregularities by the State of Minas Gerais in the allocation of resources. under the Law of Incentive to Culture and in the use of public resources from state-owned companies, directing such resources and anticipating the approval of projects that may be inconsistent with the provisions of the legislation;
3) That official and effective channels of dialogue be established between state and municipal public authorities and civil society to define the guidelines for the Belo Horizonte carnival;
4) There should be a coordinated effort between public authorities and civil society, along with the private sector, to pressure, especially those segments that profit most from Carnival, such as major beverage brands, transportation companies, and the large hotel and food service sectors, to invest part of the resources generated by the festival directly in street parades and city infrastructure;
5) That the Public Defender's Office of Minas Gerais and the State Public Prosecutor's Office Take preventative measures to curb potential abuses of power by the police during Carnival..
Subscribers:
Block - Regional
Devassa Court - South Center
Toca Raul Psychedelic Association - South Center
Mama na Vaca - South Central
Beach Station Block - South Center
Bicycle Block - South Center
Tcha Tcha's Children - Northeast
Turn the Saint - Northeast
Sambô São Salvador - Northwest
Oh, Glory - Northwest
Broccoli - Northwest
CarnaKolping - Northwest
Carna Rock SK8 - Northwest
Overflowing - Northwest
Magnolia - Northwest
Peixoto Block - East
Tetê a Santa - East
Blocomum - East
Puppies - East
Tico Tico Serra Copo - Nomadic Block
Basil Block - Nomadic Block
Zodiac Procession - Nomad Block
Mineira System - East
Crystal Moon - South Central
Burning the Film - South Center
Sacred Profane - East
Unidos do Barro Preto - South Central
Turnstile Jump - Northeast
The Worst Block in the World - West
Gaby's Daughters - South Central
Andacunfé - East
Coco da Gente - East
Masterplan - Northwest
Pleasure Block - East
Parque Já - The Great Meeting Block - West
So, Plant! - East
The Wheel - South Center
ClandesTinas Block - South Center
Yellow Ribbon - East
"I Told You So" Block BH - Northeast
Indecent Body Block - South-Central
Padreco's Block - Northwest
Gossip-Carimbó Block - South Center
Bruta Flor Block - South Centers
While It Lasts - Nomadic Block
I am Red Block - Nomadic Block
Verônica Alves de Souza Medeiros - East
Downhill - South Center
Corner Block - East
Yellow Ribbon Block - East
Funeral Block - South Center
Mar de Morro Collective. Nomadic group.
United Star of Death - South Central
Thunder of the Mines - South Central
Take the Cheese Off - South Central
Baque de Mina - South Central
So, shine! - South Center
Girl, I'm going down to California - South Central.
Toca Raul - Psychedelic Association - South Center
Wish Truck - South Center
Hermanos Block - South Center
Ziriggydum Stardust - East
Pink Lipstick Block - East
Aegria Block - South Center
ClandesTinas Block - South Center
EBbloco - Brass Band Interns - East
Which Mario? - South Center
Nostalgia Block - East
Interval Block - East
The Worst Block in the World - West
Approach Block - East
Pé di Chinelo - Northwest
Full of Quirks Block - Northwest
Approach Block - East
Delirium Collective - South Center
Good Block - South Center
Tropicalize - South Central
Uai Cê Samba Block - Pampulha