RIO - A case of racism committed by a foreigner has angered officials at the Rio Art Museum in Praça Mauá, Rio's Port Area. According to reports from witnesses and one of the victims, the tourist sought reception at around 10 a.m. Wednesday, wanting information. However, when he was received by black officials, he refused to talk.
"In English, I asked if I needed help. He moved, ignoring my presence. He turned his back to me and said, "I do not want blacks," said student Elian Almeida, 24, who works as an educator at the museum and was one of the victims. "I was shocked," I asked again, and he repeated, "No, blacks." So I said I was going to call the police and he left the museum.
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Rafael Martins, who works in the monitoring of the museum and witnessed the crime, said that before refusing to talk to Almeida, the tourist had already refused to be attended by another employee, Sanny Gomes, 21, who monitors of the external arts of the SEA.
"My reaction was one of total indignation, but I could not do anything. The Elian rushed to call the nearest authority, and Sanny's reaction was to cry", Martins reported of the episode.
The employee, who recently completed a month working in the museum, is in her first job and never imagined that she could go through a situation like this.
"Today, in the 21st century, going through this is something that hurts me, but at the same time gives me strength to follow and see what I have to do. My crying was very angry, but it motivates me to continue. We will not stop here", said Sanny.
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Tourist still refused to talk to black police officers
Even in the police station, in front of the police, the tourist continued with his racist speeches. Fábio Lisboa, a military police officer for four years, said that the foreigner was without documents and continued saying that he did not want to be approached by black people.
"When we went to take him to the cell, a fellow who is brown with lighter skin made the magazine. When I went to talk to him, he repeated: "no black people" - said the policeman. "I've never been in a situation like that"
Because he was without documents, the tourist was identified only as Antony Barrow, native of the United States, and appears to be about 35 years old. He would be staying at the Hotel Barão de Tefé, located in front of the ruins of the Valongo Pier, in Gamboa, which was once the main port of entry for Africans enslaved in the Americas and one of the points of the Historic Circuit of the Celebration of African Heritage in the Port Zone .
'Racists will not pass', museum says
