Laura Soares Sito Silveira, or simply Laura Sito (born 29 November 1991) is a Brazilian politician affiliated with the Workers’ Party (PT),[1] being both the first Black woman and the youngest state deputy[2] of the Rio Grande do Sul Legislative Assembly.[3]
Laura Sito | |
|---|---|
| State deputy of Rio Grande do Sul | |
| Assumed office 1 February 2023 | |
| Councilwoman of Porto Alegre | |
| In office 1 January 2021 – 1 January 2023 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Laura Soares Sito Silveira 29 November 1991 Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil |
| Political party | PT |
| Alma mater | Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul |
Biography
editSito is a journalist who graduated from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS).[4] She began her political activism at age 13 with the Black rights movement through her sister Luanda Rejane Soares Sito, who participated in the movement for the implementation of racial quotas at UFRGS. While still in secondary school, she was the president of the Student Council of Colégio Estadual Júlio de Castilhos[5] when she participated in and leaded protests with the Fora Yeda movement at her school. They sought the impeachment of the states then governor Yeda Crusius. During this time period, she became affiliated with the PT and became one of the leaders of national youth wing. She was the director of human rights at the National Union of Students (UNE), and as leader sought the implementation of the Quota Law in public universities. After leaving UNE, she became part of the National Directory of the PT.[4]
Sito was elected as the youngest councilor of the city of Porto Alegre in 2020, having been the first Black woman to preside over a session of city council. During her two years as councilwoman, as part of the opposition, she was able to sponsor and approve legislative proposals. She was most notable for the Food Acquisition Plan of Porto Alegre (PAA Municipal)[6] - which was instituted in 2022[7] - as well as the law that instituted, in municipal schools, a municipal program of Confrontation and Prevention of Domestic and Familial Violence, and Violence Against Women.[8]
State Deputy
editDuring the 2022 state elections, Sito was elected state deputy to the Rio Grande do Sul legislative assembly with 36,705 votes.[9]
She was elected the first Black president of the Citizenship and Human Rights Commission[10] for 2023 and 2024. She came to national attention in March 2023 for intervening in workplaces with conditions analogous to slavery in the wineries of the Serra Gaúcha region, and weeks later, on rice farms in the municipality of Uruguaiana.[11]
References
edit- ^ "Candidatura de Laura Sito no Divulgacand 2022". Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ redacaonos. "Laura Sito se torna 1ª deputada negra do RS "em contramão ao conservadorismo"". Terra (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Deputados estaduais mais jovens eleitos à Assembleia do RS são negros e de esquerda". GZH (in Brazilian Portuguese). 12 October 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Laura Sito e Guilherme Morlin: Novo Ciclo". Partido dos Trabalhadores (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Colégio Estadual Júlio de Castilhos". Wikipédia, a enciclopédia livre (in Portuguese). 22 August 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Projeto cria o Programa Municipal de Aquisição de Alimentos". Câmara Municipal de Porto Alegre (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Programa de Aquisição de Alimentos é lançado em Porto Alegre | Prefeitura de Porto Alegre". prefeitura.poa.br. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Aprovado programa escolar de prevenção à violência contra mulheres". Câmara Municipal de Porto Alegre (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Resultado eleições de 2022". Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Pela primeira vez, a Comissão de Cidadania e Direitos Humanos da Assembleia Legislativa gaúcha será presidida por uma mulher negra - Jornal O Sul" (in Brazilian Portuguese). 23 February 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Audiência sobre trabalho análogo à escravidão aborda precariedade da terceirização". Brasil de Fato - Rio Grande do Sul (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 16 July 2024.