A group of House Democrats is commemorating the 60th anniversary of Brazil’s 1964 military takeover by urging President Biden to disclose U.S. government records revealing atrocities and human rights violations during the country’s more than two-decade military rule.
Reps. Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.) and Susan Wild (D-Pa.) led over a dozen colleagues in a letter to the president and Secretary of State Antony Blinken asking for 13 specific documents to be declassified in order to strengthen connections with Brazilian civil society.
“As this week marks the 60th anniversary of the military coup in Brazil and we celebrate the bicentennial of U.S.-Brazil relations, we stress that transparency and historical understanding are vital components of building strong international partnerships,” the lawmakers stated.
“In our efforts to encourage open dialogue and enhance the bonds between our nations, we believe that declassifying these documents will show our commitment to transparency, justice, and the promotion of democratic principles,” they added.
“By doing so, we can help in healing historical wounds and ensuring that the lessons of the past guide our efforts towards a joint future based on democracy and human rights.”
Biden, while serving as vice president, visited Brazil and provided the country with a first release of declassified documents from the U.S. outlining the Brazilian dictatorship during its 21-year term.
Biden, speaking from Brasilia in 2014, said he was “pleased” to take the first step in sharing documents with Brazil’s National Truth Commission and that the handover of an initial batch of documents would foster closer connections.
“I hope by taking steps to come to grips with the past, we can find a way to focus on the immense promise of the future,” Biden stated during a press conference.
Brazilian human rights and civil society groups see the disclosure of U.S. government documents from the time of Brazil’s dictatorship as a crucial element in resisting the historical narrative that the government was unaware of or disconnected from the torture, disappearances, executions, and other atrocities against critics or individuals considered a political threat.
The Washington Brazil Office, a non-partisan, non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting closer U.S.-Brazilian ties, expressed their support for the lawmakers' initiative.
“Transparency is an important step to enhance democratic relations between Brazil and the U.S. and provide insight into our shared history. We anticipate the White House to heed this request, which reflects the calls from Brazilian civil society, and rapidly declassify the documents.”
The WBO was one of 24 Brazilian groups and individuals who requested the documents and backed the Democrats’ letter.
In a previous letter to Biden, these groups characterized the Obama administration’s decision to declassify 660 documents for the National Truth Commission as a “remarkable act of transparency.”
The groups asked for more documents to be declassified so the public can learn more about the nation's history, build trust, and make the government more accountable.
Updated at 2:21 p.m.
