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May 15, 2019

New Yorkers Protest Gala Honoring Brazilian Pres. Bolsonaro and Mike Pompeo
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And in New York City, protesters rallied outside the Marriott Marquis
hotel in Times Square Tuesday, as the Brazilian-American Chamber of
Commerce held a black-tie gala dinner honoring Brazil's far-right
President Jair Bolsonaro and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Bolsonaro was initially scheduled to attend the gala, but canceled those
plans earlier this month after he came under heavy protest over his long
history of homophobic, racist and misogynistic comments.
The awards gala was moved from the American Museum of Natural History
after a campaign by environmentalists pointed to Bolsonaro's efforts to
open the Amazon to deforestation and mining, while violating the rights
of indigenous peoples. This is Natalia de Campos of the Defend Democracy
in Brazil Committee.

Natalia de Campos: "We're here in front of the Marriott Marquis hotel in
Times Square where an event tonight will be held for the
Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce Person of the Year award,
honoring Jair Bolsonaro, president of Brazil, and Mike Pompeo, Secretary
of State of the U.S. […] The Brazilian Chamber of Commerce has clear
deals with corporations that are buying off the assets of Brazil and
also supporting intervention in Latin America, such as against
Venezuela, or in Brazil itself, setting up bases - military bases of the
U.S. there now. So Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is very much in favor
of these policies."



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