Abolitionistcivicprocessions

The rise of the Conservative Party to power, in August 1885, brought demonstrations for the end of slavery to the streets of Rio de Janeiro. The government, under the leadership of the pro-slavery baron of Cotegipe, pressured theater owners not to provide space for abolitionist events. Should they insist, plainclothes police officers would be on standby to stop the emancipation conferences.

From the theater to the streets, the abolitionists changed strategy and began promoting civic processions. The goal was to produce moral shock in the population, through the blatant exposure of the violence inherent to the slavery system.

Image description: This is a black and white photograph of a group of men in formal attire, possibly from the mid-19th century. The men are arranged in two rows: in the front row, three are seated, and in the back row, four are standing. They are all wearing suits and ties, with some also wearing hats. The image appears to depict a formal ceremony or gathering.

In February 1886, the Abolitionist Confederation paraded 15-year-old Eduarda and 17-year-old Joana through the streets of the Court. The marks of violence were on display in their disfigured faces, dried blood, and raw, open wounds. Eduarda ended up blind; Joana did not survive. Her body was carried by abolitionists, and the funeral turned into yet another public event denouncing torture and murder.

Image description: The image is a black and white engraving. At the bottom, there is text in Portuguese. In the center, we see two female figures dressed in light-colored clothing, being followed by two men in suits and hats. On the left, there is another male figure wearing a tall hat and a dark suit. The figure on the right is pointing at something outside the image. The background is plain, with no additional details.

The case turned into a national drama, but the crackdown did not let up. In August 1887, the government banned gatherings in the streets and public buildings. Abolitionists were fired from their jobs and set out to fight back. On August 6th, they organized a conference at the Teatro Polytheama. Two days later, a gathering in front of the barracks at Campo da Aclamação. Both were followed by clashes with the police. José do Patrocínio spoke for many of his companions when he declared that “sincere abolitionists are all prepared to die.”