The São Paulo Public Security Secretariat has opened an inquiry into a controversial incident in which armed military police entered a public school following a complaint from a father who objected to his daughter’s drawing of an Orisa. The case has reignited national debate on religious intolerance and the persistent prejudice faced by Afro-Brazilian and African-diasporic traditions, including Candomblé, Umbanda, and the broader Orisa heritage.
The episode occurred on Wednesday (12) at the Antônio Bento Municipal Early Childhood Education School, in the Butantã district. According to school staff and official reports, four military police officers entered the building carrying weapons after the father called authorities, alleging that his daughter was being “forced” to participate in African religious practices. No evidence has supported this claim.
The previous day, Tuesday (11), the father had visited the school to express dissatisfaction with an activity that involved drawing orixás as part of the curriculum on Afro-Brazilian culture. Witnesses stated that he behaved aggressively and removed from the classroom mural the drawing of Iansã , known as Oya in Yoruba tradition, created by his daughter. His conduct was described as disruptive and disrespectful to the school environment.
Upon responding to the father’s call, the police remained inside the school for more than an hour, questioning employees and inspecting the premises. They left around 5:10 p.m., accompanying the father. Their armed presence inside an early-childhood institution, in response to an activity rooted in cultural and historical education, has sparked significant public criticism.
In an official note, school principal Aline Aparecida Nogueira emphasized that the institution does not teach or promote religious doctrine. Instead, she highlighted that the activities are aligned with Brazil’s anti-racist educational policies, particularly the legal mandate established by Lei 10.639/03, which requires the teaching of African and Afro-Brazilian history and culture in all public and private schools. She also stated that she felt coerced and pressured during roughly twenty minutes of police questioning.
The incident has caused widespread outrage among parents, many of whom have offered to provide statements defending the school’s pedagogical approach. Families affirm that the work developed at the institution is consistent with national guidelines aimed at combating racism and affirming cultural diversity, principles protected by Brazil’s Constitution and reinforced by federal law.
Beyond the specific episode, the case has drawn attention to a broader and recurring challenge: despite legal protections, Afro-Brazilian religions and cultural symbols continue to be targeted by intolerance, misinformation, and racial prejudice. Drawings of Orisa , cultural activities, and pedagogical materials centered on African heritage are often misinterpreted as religious indoctrination, reflecting old stereotypes rooted in colonial and anti-Black narratives.
For many specialists and activists, the presence of armed police in response to a child’s drawing of Oya symbolizes how systemic racism still shapes reactions to African-derived cultural expressions. They argue that such incidents demonstrate the ongoing vulnerability of Afro-diasporic traditions in public institutions and underscore the need for stronger policies that ensure safety, respect, and cultural literacy.
The inquiry by the Public Security Secretariat will examine the conduct of the police officers and assess the legitimacy of the father’s complaint. Meanwhile, the case has become a rallying point for educators, religious leaders, and human rights advocates who stress that promoting an anti-racist curriculum and protecting the plurality of Brazil’s cultural heritage must remain urgent national priorities.
