Igaracy ordered to rename avenue honoring military dictator Castelo Branco

A judge in Piancó has ordered the municipality of Igaracy, in the state of Paraíba, to rename a main avenue currently named after Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco. Castelo Branco was the first president of the Brazilian military dictatorship, serving from 1964 to 1967.

The ruling, issued by Judge Pedro Davi Alves de Vasconcelos, follows a legal action brought by a local resident. The judge stated that maintaining the name on official maps and signs perpetuates a discourse that legitimizes authoritarianism and the suppression of rights, which contradicts the fundamental principles of the Brazilian Republic, including human dignity and the prevalence of human rights.

The municipality has 60 days to remove the name from all official documents, maps, and street signs. Additionally, the City Council has been summoned to select a new name for the thoroughfare. This decision aligns with ongoing investigations by the Federal Public Ministry into whether other municipalities in Paraíba maintain honors for figures associated with the military regime.