A man, identified as Ian Andrade, reported feeling disgusted upon witnessing a woman performing a Nazi salute immediately after voting in a polling station in Rio de Janeiro this Sunday (25). Ian Andrade, who is Jewish, described his feeling as deep nausea, and the incident sparked a discussion at the location, part of which he recorded.
The event took place late in the morning at Colégio Santo Inácio, located in Botafogo, and was subsequently registered at the 10th Police Precinct of Botafogo. Initially, Ian questioned the voter about the gesture because a friend had informed him that she made the salute at the entrance to the venue. Since he had not witnessed the initial act, he chose to wait for the woman to leave to confirm what had happened.
At 31 years old, Ian Andrade stated that he had never experienced such a situation in his life as a Jew. The episode caused indignation among other attendees, some of whom watched the discussion while others used their cell phones to film.
Ian mentioned wearing a white t-shirt, without any political reference, and that he planned to attend a birthday lunch at his grandmother's house. He also stated that he received no justification from the woman for the gesture.
Police Report
According to the interviewee, a military police officer was present at the scene and witnessed the situation but did not intervene, leading Ian to believe that the agent did not perceive the seriousness of the act. After the woman left the polling station, walking towards Rua Dona Mariana, Ian spoke with other people and decided to file a report at the police station, attaching the video to the record.
After the images were released, Ian received messages of support from both friends and members of the Jewish community. He expressed hope that the woman would be held accountable and that the case would serve as a warning against acts of hate, stating that it is necessary for this to set an example so that people understand that such actions cannot be committed publicly without consequences.
It was unclear how the altercation began. The video shows the voter crossing the schoolyard towards the exit, performing the gesture historically linked to the regime of Adolf Hitler—characterized by raising the right arm extended forward and slightly upward, with the hand open and fingers together. The voter was wearing a yellow jersey of the National Team and a 'Maga' cap, a movement of supporters of US President Donald Trump. The term 'Maga' refers to the slogan 'Make America Great Again.'
The Israeli Federation of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FIERJ) issued a statement repudiating the occurrence. The federation reported that, according to the video, a woman repeatedly made the Nazi salute, even after being questioned by citizens. When informed that one of the attendees was Jewish, she allegedly replied: 'Even worse.' FIERJ classified the attitude as inadmissible, exceeding the limits of freedom of expression and challenging democratic values, human dignity, and the memory of the victims of Nazism. The organization emphasized the seriousness of such an event occurring during voting, a Brazilian democratic symbol, and informed that the case was communicated to the police authorities, who will monitor the investigation to identify those responsible and apply the appropriate legal measures.
Historical Context
After the Nazis came to power in 1933, the salute became widely used in Germany, including in official events and daily life. Generally, it was accompanied by the expression 'Heil Hitler', or 'Hail Hitler'. This gesture consolidated as a symbol of the Nazi regime, responsible for the Holocaust, which consisted of the systematic extermination of approximately six million Jews, in addition to the persecution and death of millions of other people during Hitler's government period, from 1933 to 1945.