Brazilian Judge Orders Return of Book Featuring Marielle Franco to Schools in São José dos Campos

Judge Renata Heloísa da Silva Salles of the Vara da Infância e Juventude in São José dos Campos ruled that the municipal education department must immediately return the book "Meninas Sonhadoras, Mulheres Cientistas" to public school libraries. The court found the earlier removal, prompted by councilor Thomaz Henrique (PL), amounted to censorship because it lacked any pedagogical justification and was driven by political and ideological objections, including the book’s chapters on Marielle Franco and anthropologist Débora Diniz.

The decision, prompted by a lawsuit from the São Paulo Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Public Defender’s Office, cited constitutional protection against censorship. It also prohibited any future removal of the work for political reasons and authorized a daily fine of R$500, up to R$50,000, for non‑compliance.