Vladimir Herzog was a naturalized Brazilian-born Yugoslav Jewish journalist.
He was assassinated on October 25, 1975 during the period of military rule in Brazil. The fact became an important instrument for the resumption of democratization in the country.
Biography
Vladimir Herzog was born Vlado Herzog on June 27, 1937, in Osijek, Yugoslavia. Today, this city belongs to Croatia.
The parents, Zora and Zigmund Herzog, were Jews who had to flee to Italy in 1941, during World War II. When Vladimir was nine years old, the family was sent to a camp for war refugees. At the time, they chose to live in Brazil.
Herzog's maternal grandparents were executed in the Auschwitz concentration camp and paternal grandparents, died in an extermination camp in Yugoslavia.
The family went to Brazil, disembarking in Rio de Janeiro and settling in São Paulo.
In 1950, Herzog began studying Philosophy at the University of São Paulo. After a course in Argentina, held in 1965, he began to act in cinema. Among the films he worked on is "Maribas", released in 1963.
Still worked on "Football Undergrounds", in 1965, and participated in the production of "doramundo", which was only completed after his death.
He was an intern at the newspaper “O Estado de S. Paulo” in 1958. At the time, Herzog also worked at a bank branch part-time.
In 1964, he married social science student Clarice Chaves. on account of the 1964 Military Coup, the couple went into exile in London the following year. Also in 1965, Vladimir Herzog began work on BBC broadcasts to Brazil.
Still in London, he witnessed the birth of two children, Ivo and André. In England, the journalist started another film course and his wife would return to Brazil in 1968 with their children. Vladimir's return was delayed by two weeks due to news of the start of Institutional Act No. 5 - AI-5 and its effects.
From 1970 onwards, he will work at the magazine Eyesight. He combined the work with the director of journalism at TV Cultura after having his name approved by the SNI (National Information Service).
Death
Herzog died at the headquarters of the DOI (Operations and Information Detachment) of the CODI (Internal Defense Operations Center). The organ, linked to the Army, received political prisoners during the military period.
Herzog worked at TV Cultura, a state television, but was arrested and questioned about his activity at the PCB (Brazilian Communist Party). The extermination of communism was the main target of the military that acted with the support of the AI-5 (Institutional Act no. 5).
The journalist was tortured for an entire night and died in the morning. On the death certificate, the cause of death was recorded as suicide by hanging. Only in 2013, the family received the corrected certificate. It stated that Herzog died as a result of injuries and ill-treatment inflicted at Army headquarters at DOI-Codi.
repercussion
Vladimir Herzog was approached by the military to report to DOI-Codi headquarters as part of Operation Jakarta. The aim was to be interrogated about possible communist activity within a state agency.
Taken by a friend, the journalist did not resist and died from injuries in the interrogation. Other imprisoned journalists heard the screams and later denounced the action.
The cause of death, suicide, was promptly questioned by the family. In 1978, the Brazilian State was convicted of being responsible for the journalist's death on the premises of a state agency. This sentence pointed to the political reopening that was taking place in Brazil announced by the government of Ernesto Geisel.
Likewise, with the long years of military dictatorship in Brazil it was increasingly difficult to continue to have the support of the population, who started to protest as they could. Thus, an ecumenical act to remember the death of Vladimir Herzog brought together the three main religious leaders of São Paulo.
Eight thousand people attended the celebration in the presence of Cardinal Dom Paulo Evaristo Arns, Presbyterian Pastor James Wright and Rabbi Henry Sobel. The entire act was accompanied by military personnel.
Only in 1979, the military regime began the process of political opening with the Amnesty Law.
Clarice Herzog
The role of social scientist Clarice Herzog was instrumental in clarifying her husband's death. Today, Clarice works at an institute where she carries out qualitative research.
His name is mentioned in the song "The drunk and the tightrope walker", by Aldir Blanc and João Bosco.
Cry
Our Motherland, kind mother
Marys and Clarisses cry
on the soil of Brazil
But I know such a poignant pain
It won't be useless
Vladimir Herzog Institute
In June 2009 the Vladimir Herzog Institute was created by the journalist's friends and colleagues. The aim is to spread democratic values and respect for democracy.
One of Herzog's best-known phrases summarizes the humanitarian ideals that the Institute wishes to preserve:
When we lose the ability to be indignant about the atrocities committed against others, we also lose the right to consider ourselves civilized human beings.
Curiosities
- Although the police handed over a certificate stating that suicide was his cause of death, the rabbi refused to bury him in the suicide wing of the Israeli cemetery.
- In 1979, the “Vladimir Herzog Award for Amnesty and Human Rights” was instituted for press professionals and media outlets committed to democracy.
Read:
- Music and the Military Dictatorship in Brazil
- Democracy in Brazil
- Brazilian History Questions in Enem
