Portuguese woman convicted for racism in high-profile case

The case, which sparked public outrage in 2022, involved racist slurs directed at the underage children of a famous Brazilian couple in a restaurant in Costa de Caparica.

Instagram/Giovanna Ewbank

What?

The Almada Court sentenced Portuguese Adélia Ramos to eight months in suspended prison, and to pay compensation of 16 thousand euros for racist insults against the children of Brazilian actors Giovanna Ewbank and Bruno Gagliasso.

The incident took place in 2022 at the Clássico Beach Club restaurant in Costa da Caparica, Almada, when Adélia Ramos called the minor children of Giovanna Ewbank and Bruno Gagliasso “filthy black people”.

The children who were adopted by the couple were seven and nine years old at the time. Currently, at 11 and 10 years old, the two minors were traumatized with the incident and, according to the parents.

Now, the Almada Court has sentenced Adélia Ramos to eight months in prison for aggravated injuries. The sentence is suspended for four years.

This Portuguese woman still has to pay compensation of 14 thousand euros to offended children and 2,500 euros to SOS Racismo.

Tell me more

The court found that on 30 July 2022, on São João beach in Costa da Caparica, Adélia Barros shouted at the children at least five times while looking at them: “Get out of here, you filthy black people”, “Portugal is not the place for you” and “Go back to Africa and Brazil” were some of the insults he uttered.

The judge said that because of this, the children became anxious, remained in a state of shock and were afraid to be alone, and Chissomo also showed febrile symptoms.

The children didn’t want to leave the house for fear and asked to return to Brazil.

They have been receiving psychological counselling and their self-esteem has been compromised. The offended parties feel ashamed and humiliated, the judge added.

Adélia Barros is also accused of offences against the military. According to the evidence, she addressed GNR officers, shouting: “Son of a bitch, cunts, you’re not policemen, you’re nothing.” She also evoked Salazar, shouting: “In the land of communists, long live Salazar!”

Videos posted on the internet show the actress reacting to the woman: “Go to jail, racist”. After the incident, Gagliasso called the police. The woman was taken away escorted by officers.

Judgment

In court, claimed she was drunk but this was not a mitigating factor. It was still sentenced to compulsory hospitalization to undergo medical treatment for alcoholism.

“I hope you realize that these situations are not acceptable and that the expressions are remarkable” for those who hear them, the judge highlighted in the sentence.

The decision pleased the lawyers of the Brazilian famous couple. According to lawyer Rui Patrício, “the court found the facts proven, as well as the racist motivation, emphasising the need to combat racial discrimination and protect children”.

Adélia Barros did not wish to comment on the decision, and her lawyer said they would consider an appeal.

The President’s reaction

The case attracted widespread attention on both sides of the Atlantic and President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa condemned the episode, during an interview with the Brazilian media.

He said: “Any act of racism or xenophobia is reprehensible and intolerable. This is basic in a democracy. It’s unacceptable.”

For the President, the actors were right to call the police.

However, he warned that it’s a mistake to frame every Portuguese person as a racist.

“Racism is a phenomenon that exists in Portuguese society, we don’t deny that, but it can’t be generalised to every Portuguese person,’ said the President.