Shocking incitement from a Brazilian journalist, in a discussion on the channel where he broadcasts he said that his country would have to kill the Jews of Brazil to be as rich as Germany. He and the channel later apologized, but he continues in his role to the displeasure of the Jewish community who demanded his dismissal
Shocking incitement: A journalist working for one of Brazil’s largest broadcasters apologized on Wednesday for saying on the broadcast that “the only way Brazil can equal Germany’s wealth is by killing Brazilian Jews.”
Jose Carlos Bernardi, from the right-wing radio and television station in Brazil, made the remarks at a discussion on the visit of former Brazilian President Lola da Silva to Germany.
Asked how Brazil could achieve the economic development that Germany enjoys, Bernardi replied: “Only by attacking Jews will we get there. If we kill a million (a thousand times a billion) Jews and take their economic power, then Brazil will get rich. That is what happened to Germany after the war.” Bernardi’s remarks sparked outrage among Jewish leaders in Brazil, who accused him of inciting violence and spreading antisemitic stereotypes about Jews and wealth.
According to reports in Brazil, a prosecutor in Sao Paulo is examining the possibility of accusing Bernardi of incitement to hatred. In a statement to the media, Bernardi said he “apologized for the unfortunate remarks” and that his intention was to highlight the injustice done to the Jews by Germany instead of recommending it as a course of action. The media channel where the things were said also apologized for the things. But did not respond to calls to fire Bernardi from his job at the channel.
The umbrella group of Jewish communities in Brazil said in a statement that Bernardi’s remarks had caused “distress and pain to many Jews” and stressed her position against comparing current political issues to the Holocaust.
A day later, the journalist was fired from the office of Campus Machado, a lawmaker in Sao Paulo. In a statement, Campus Machado expressed his displeasure with the “unfortunate things” and said he could not continue to hire the services of the journalist who holds a public relations office in light of his “excellent relationship with the Jewish community” and his “personal friendship” with countless Jews. Therefore, “I would like to announce that by mutual agreement with the professional Jose Carlos Bernardi, we have decided that he has no more way to work with my office and therefore he will be fired immediately.”