Rio Reinstates Lapa Bar’s Operating Permit After Appeal Over Discriminatory Sign

Overview

• The Partisan bar in Lapa, which had its registration canceled Tuesday in the city’s official gazette, regained its permit after an administrative appeal.
• Earlier this month, the city consumer agency Procon fined the bar R$ 9,520 for a door sign in English saying citizens of the United States and Israel were not welcome, calling it abusive discrimination under Brazil’s Consumer Defense Code.
• The Municipal Public Order Secretariat (Seop) said it reversed the cancellation to ensure due process and noted there has been no repeat of the conduct since the Procon fine.
• Owner Thiago Vieira argued the notice was symbolic political speech and not an actual ban on customers, and he called the initial cancellation disproportionate.
• Political pressure has mounted, with Councilor Flávio Valle urging license revocation and Councilor Pedro Duarte filing a notícia-crime to state prosecutors, and an inspection record also cites an alleged attempt to block health inspectors from entering.