Student Faces Racist and Sexual Harassment After Election Results
A 13-year-old girl was targeted by peers following her public support for Lula.
1Targeted Post-Election Harassment
Following the October 25 election results, a 13-year-old Black student in Belo Horizonte faced severe online abuse. After posting support for Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Instagram, she received racist, religious, and sexual threats. The messages included attacks on her family and derogatory comments regarding her social class and religious background.
2Evidence of Digital Abuse
The victim's family documented the abuse before the messages were deleted by the perpetrators. Evidence includes audio recordings containing religious intolerance and a photograph of a peer's buttocks sent to the girl. The family identified the aggressors as a classmate and two other adolescents, prompting a formal police report for electronic injury.
3Police and Legal Action
The mother filed a police report with the Civil Police of Minas Gerais on October 27. The case is currently being investigated by the Department for the Protection of the Family. Legal counsel emphasizes that such actions are necessary to break the cycle of normalized racism and protect the child's emotional health.
4Institutional School Response
The school held a meeting with the family and their lawyer on November 3 to address the incident. The institution pledged to provide institutional and legal support to the victim. They stated they do not condone racism or intolerance and are currently conducting internal procedures to verify the facts and ensure student safety.
5Widespread Political Violence
This incident is not isolated, as similar cases of political violence against students were reported in the Federal District, Paraná, and São Paulo. Reports also indicate a surge in workplace harassment, with the Public Ministry of Labor receiving over 4,300 complaints of electoral harassment within three days following the second round of voting.
6Harassment of Educators
Teachers are also facing political persecution, with the Sinpro Minas union reporting 15 cases of intimidation by colleagues and school management. Some reports suggest that staff members who voted for the Workers' Party are being threatened with job loss. Unions are urging teachers to report these incidents to protect their democratic rights.
7Defining Political Violence
Experts clarify that these attacks constitute political violence rather than bullying, as they are episodic rather than continuous. Unlike bullying, which requires long-term intervention, these cases demand immediate, targeted responses. Educators emphasize that schools must address these events as a reflection of broader societal tensions that require urgent, formal legal intervention.
8Pedagogical and Legal Path
Experts suggest that schools should focus on restorative justice rather than simple expulsion to ensure long-term behavioral change. While legal action is essential to address crimes like racism, the educational environment must facilitate dialogue. The goal is to hold aggressors accountable while ensuring the victim's dignity and safety are fully protected.
Original article: G1 – Globo — Student Faces Racist and Sexual Harassment After Election Results