Brazil’s education minister has been fined for
failing to wear a face mask at a rally for President Jair Bolsonaro, who has
himself repeatedly flouted Brasilia’s masks-in-public rule amid the coronavirus
pandemic.
failing to wear a face mask at a rally for President Jair Bolsonaro, who has
himself repeatedly flouted Brasilia’s masks-in-public rule amid the coronavirus
pandemic.
Abraham Weintraub, one of the far-right
president’s most controversial ministers, appeared at a rally organized by
Bolsonaro supporters Sunday.
president’s most controversial ministers, appeared at a rally organized by
Bolsonaro supporters Sunday.
He shook hands and posed for pictures
with demonstrators — many of whom also went without masks, which have been
mandatory in public in the Brazilian capital since April.
with demonstrators — many of whom also went without masks, which have been
mandatory in public in the Brazilian capital since April.
That got him a 2,000-real ($385) fine
from the Brasilia district government for being “caught in public without a
protective mask,” according to Brazilian media, which ran photos of his fine
slip.
from the Brasilia district government for being “caught in public without a
protective mask,” according to Brazilian media, which ran photos of his fine
slip.
Weintraub said on Twitter he had not yet
been notified of the fine but that it appeared authentic.
been notified of the fine but that it appeared authentic.
“They’re trying to shut me up at any
price,” he said.
price,” he said.
Bolsonaro, who has likened the new
coronavirus to a “little flu” and condemned the “hysteria” around it, also
regularly goes without a mask at weekend rallies by his supporters, though he
has not been fined so far.
coronavirus to a “little flu” and condemned the “hysteria” around it, also
regularly goes without a mask at weekend rallies by his supporters, though he
has not been fined so far.
Weintraub has repeatedly been embroiled
in controversy, making anti-Chinese comments that were widely deemed racist,
misspelling words in official documents and on Twitter, and recently saying the
Supreme Court’s justices are “criminals” and should be “thrown in jail.”
in controversy, making anti-Chinese comments that were widely deemed racist,
misspelling words in official documents and on Twitter, and recently saying the
Supreme Court’s justices are “criminals” and should be “thrown in jail.”
He alluded to that comment again Sunday,
telling demonstrators: “I’ve already said my piece on what I’d do with those
criminals.”
telling demonstrators: “I’ve already said my piece on what I’d do with those
criminals.”
As coronavirus has surged in Brazil,
which now has the second-highest death toll worldwide after the United States,
tension has been mounting between Bolsonaro and both state authorities and the
legislative and judicial branches of government.
which now has the second-highest death toll worldwide after the United States,
tension has been mounting between Bolsonaro and both state authorities and the
legislative and judicial branches of government.
The Brasilia government had banned last
weekend’s rallies on grounds of fighting the spread of coronavirus.
weekend’s rallies on grounds of fighting the spread of coronavirus.
On Saturday, after police broke up a
protest camp by one group of hardcore Bolsonaro supporters, the activists tried
to storm the Supreme Court building, then shot fireworks at it.
protest camp by one group of hardcore Bolsonaro supporters, the activists tried
to storm the Supreme Court building, then shot fireworks at it.
On Monday, authorities arrested six
far-right activists for “anti-democratic acts.” The arrests were ordered by
Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
far-right activists for “anti-democratic acts.” The arrests were ordered by
Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
Chief Justice Jose Antonio Dias Toffoli
called the fireworks shot at the Supreme Court an “attack” and said in a
statement he would not accept threats against the court.
called the fireworks shot at the Supreme Court an “attack” and said in a
statement he would not accept threats against the court.
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