The city of São Paulo is accused of censorship for banning a concert with a pro-Palestinian message.

247 - The Palestinian branch of the Workers' Party (PT) released a public statement accusing the São Paulo City Hall of censorship and violation of democratic principles by partially interrupting a performance by the band Sophia Chablau e Uma Enorme Perda de Tempo during Rock Week, an event promoted by the municipal government in Praça do Patriarca. 

The complaint was published in the journalist's column. Monica Bergamo, from Folha de S.Paulo, this Tuesday (15).According to the Palestine Nucleus, the intervention occurred at the moment when the group was displaying, on a screen, the message "Free Palestine" accompanied by the Palestinian flag. "The interruption of the show, the cutting of the screen displaying the Palestinian flag with the message 'Free Palestine', the muting of the vocalist's microphone, and the arbitrary reduction of the repertoire are acts that not only violate democratic principles, but also disrespect art and artists, the opinion and respect of more than 6 million Arabs who live in São Paulo," the statement said.

The Municipal Culture Secretariat, headed by Totó Parente (MDB), refuted the accusations. In an official statement, it affirmed that the show was not interrupted, but that the sound and images were reduced or turned off because, according to the department, the demonstrations made during the presentation “violated contractual clauses” and allegedly included “offenses against third parties.”

However, the band disputes the official version and claims that the contract does not contain any explicit prohibition against political demonstrations during performances. 

“In the face of the genocide that the Palestinian people are facing, the band's show of solidarity is an act of humanity and a legitimate exercise of freedom of expression,” stated the PT's Palestine Nucleus. The group also criticized the Nunes administration's justification as “vague, generic, and inconsistent,” highlighting the absence of contractual clauses prohibiting political demonstrations.

The band's protest took place in the context of growing global mobilization in support of the Palestinian people in the face of escalating violence in the Gaza Strip, marked by civilian deaths and allegations of human rights violations by the Israeli government, with the support of US President Donald Trump.

In the statement, the Nucleus also affirms that “supporting Palestine is not a crime, but a fundamental right in any democracy.” It adds: “Censorship is an instrument of anti-democratic regimes and cannot be tolerated in a city that claims to be pluralistic and free.”

Finally, the Workers' Party group demands that Mayor Ricardo Nunes (MDB) and the Secretary of Culture issue a public retraction and commit to guaranteeing freedom of expression at events organized or sponsored by the municipal administration.