Mônica Bergamo: Nelson Piquet is denounced to the Public Ministry for racist speeches about Hamilton

Former driver Nelson Piquet became the target of a complaint with the Public Ministry of the Federal District and Territories for calling F1 driver Lewis Hamilton a “neguinho”. The representation was made by the PSOL bench in the Chamber of Deputies, which accuses Piquet of practicing the crime of discrimination or prejudice.

During an interview with journalist Ricardo Oliveira in November last year, Nelson Piquet used the term considered racist multiple times when referring to Hamilton. Excerpts from the video re-circulated this week.

Piquet even apologized through an official note after the negative repercussion and a public response from Hamilton, who asked that “old voices” no longer be given space. This Friday (1st), however, an unprecedented excerpt released by the Grande Prêmio portal showed that the former driver also made a homophobic speech on the occasion, reigniting criticism. “The little nigga [Hamilton] should be giving more c*”, he said.

PSOL parliamentarians state in the representation that the racism proclaimed is unacceptable within the scope of the democratic rule of law and that Piquet’s speech deserves repudiation by all who believe in constitutional principles.

​The representation is headed by PSOL deputies Áurea Carolina (MG), Talíria Petrone (RJ) and Vivi Reis (PA). Wanted, Nelson Piquet did not respond.

“Racism structures social relations in Brazil. In this sense, treating black human beings in an evidently pejorative way, as Mr. Nelson Piquet does, is not in line with the practices for implementing the equality device”, affirm the deputies.

The parliamentarians also point out that the former pilot is a long-time supporter of President Jair Bolsonaro (PL), having even participated in the coup acts of 7 de Setembro last year alongside the president.

“Nelson Piquet is yet another proof that the virulent rhetoric employed by President Jair Bolsonaro enables his supporters to feel free to use the same terms and the same class, race and gender prejudices”, say the deputies.

LETTERS

Actress Beth Goulart received guests like her sister, also actress Bárbara Bruno, at the launch of her book “Viver É uma Arte”, on Tuesday (28), at the headquarters of the Mulheres do Brasil group, in São Paulo.
Actress Paloma Bernardi and businesswoman Luiza Trajano attended the event. Actor Guilherme Leme and director Elias Andreato also visited.

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