Protesters
asking that Sean Goldman, the eight-year-old at the
center of an international custody dispute, remain in
Brazil.
Estadao, Brazil
Protest is Held in Tug of War Over Brazilian-American
Boy
"We
hope that our justice system protects a Brazilian child. We will prove that
Brazil is sovereign. My sister must be in heaven rooting for us."
-- Luca Bianchi, sister
of Bruna Bianchi and uncle of eight-year-old Sean
Goldman
By Pedro Dantas
Translated By Brandi
Miller
March 15, 2009
Brazil - Estadao - Original Article
(Portuguese)
RIO: A march was held Sunday
[March 15] to keep 8-year-old boy Sean in Brazil. Organized by relatives of
Sean's mother Bruna Bianchi, who passed away last
year, and the child's adoptive father, lawyer Joćo
Paulo Lins e Silva, hundreds
of people walked along the Rio beachfront from Copacabana to Leblon in Rio's southern zone. The parade began in front of
the Marriot Hotel where Sean's biological father, North American David Goldman,
usually stays. The Military Police estimated that there were 300 protesters,
including actors, lawyers and businessmen.
With white shirts and national
flags in hand, the protesters adopted the language of patriotism in defending
their position that Sean should remain in the country. "We hope that our
justice system protects a Brazilian child. We will prove that Brazil is
sovereign. My sister must be in heaven rooting for us," said Luca Bianchi,
Bruna's brother. One of the signs criticized the Office
of the Solicitor-General with the phrase "The AGU
Wants to Expel a Brazilian Child." At the request of the Special Secretary
for Human Rights, the AGU has filed suit in the Sixteenth
Family Court of Rio de Janeiro requesting the child's return to the biological
father.
After confirming that the
North American was no longer at the hotel, the protesters decided to walk along
the beach yelling "Sean Wants to Stay" and "Joćo
Paulo - Super Dad." They received the support of people in the vicinity,
but there were also shouts of "David," referring to the child's
biological father.
Actress Nķvea Stelmann
[left] said, "I was one of Bruna's best friends
until she died after the birth of her daughter with Joćo
Paulo. Yesterday I was with Sean and I saw him trying to play and enjoy himself.
But he's distressed at the possibility of having to leave the country, because
to him, Joćo Paulo is his father."
TV hostess Maria Paula [photo, right] said she came because she was
moved by the case. "I don't know anyone in the family, but imagine the
pain of a grandmother who has just lost her daughter and is now threatened with
the loss of her grandson. The father's desire to be closer is marvelous, but he
has to win the boy's love here," said Paula, a cast member of the comedy show
Casseta
e Planeta.
Posted
by WORLDMEETS.US
The adoptive father didn't
attend the protest. He was represented by his father, lawyer Paulo Lins e Silva, who made no statement. Relatives commented to
journalists that during his Federal Court psychological evaluation, Sean said
that he intended to remain in Brazil. "I will not go. If they make me,
I'll break everything," the boy supposedly said to those present.
Sérgio Tostes, the Lins e Silva family attorney, said that Sean's Brazilian
relatives reacted well to the fact that the case was discussed during the
meeting between Presidents Lula and Barack Obama. "Everyone was pleased.
After all, Lula said that the matter will be handled by Brazilian Justice and that
Obama accepted that," Tostes said. The lawyer said
that Goldman had visited with his son from Thursday to Saturday morning, but
that he had cancelled the Saturday afternoon and Sunday meetings.
CLICK HERE FOR PORTUGUESE VERSION
[Posted
by WORLDMEETS.US March 17, 10:17pm]
