CARACAS, Oct 11: A 19-year-old woman wearing a #NotHim, or #EleNão, T-shirt has been attacked by a group of men claiming to support far-right-wing presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro in the Baronesa do Gravataí, Cidade Baixa neighborhood in Porto Alegre Monday.
The victim, who has refused to comment publicly on the attack fearing further attackes, told the Civil Police she was disembarking a bus and about to walk home when she was approached by the group of attackers.
After physically assaulting her, one of the attackers, she said, took out a pocket knife and carved a sign, similar to a swastika, into her stomach. The swastika is well known around the world to be associated with the Nazi regime of the 1930s and 1940s and is associated with ideas of racism and anti-semitism.
#NotHim Brazilian women unite behind hashtag against Bolsonaro
Hundreds of thousands gathered in different cities across Brazil over the last few weeks to protest against Bolsonaro, who represents the Social Liberal Party (PSL). The movement was led by feminists opposing the candidate's sexism, racism, and homophobia and has been supported by leftist organizations.
The marches follow social media unrest, as Bolsonaro's remarks have shown little empathy towards gender equality.
In a series of marches stretching from Manaus in the Amazon to the megacity of Sao Paulo in the nation's southeast, demonstrators used the #EleNao, or #NotHim, hashtag pledging that voters will not to vote for the candidate who has made light of rape and called the gender pay gap justified.
Demonstrators in 52 cities around the world, across 24 countries, will also show solidarity with Brazilians for the "#EleNão" (#NotHim) protests. According to the Facebook account of "Women United Against Bolsonaro," which now has over two million followers, the demonstrations are nonpartisan.
The international rallies are also organized through the "Brazilian Women Abroad Against Bolsonaro" Facebook account and will incorporate the #EleNão hashtag and "No to Fascism" slogan for social media use.
