Instagram

Brazilian President Calls Greta Thunberg A Brat For Questioning Indigenous Deaths

Hot on the heels of young climate activist Greta Thunberg being named Time Magazine's Person Of 2019, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has voiced his opinion that Thunberg does not deserve the widespread press that she receives.

It is clear that Thunberg does not shy away from controversial topics when speaking to her audience about public power and democracy, but it is even clearer that some of these topics will trigger pushback from higher political powers who wish to silence her.

Thunberg recently tweeted in response to the Indigenous tribe members murdered in Brazil for protecting the Amazon forest.

"Indigenous people are literally being murdered for trying to protect the forest from illegal deforestation," she wrote.

"Over and over again. It is shameful that the world remains silent about this."

Instagram | @gretathunberg

Given that this is happening under Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's administration, it's only natural for eyes to turn to the way he's been leading the country thus far.

When asked about Thunberg's comments, President Bolsonaro had a less-than-civil response.

Instagram | @jairmessiasbolsonaro

"Greta has said that the Indians died because they were defending the Amazon," Bolsonaro told Brazilian press, according to CNN. "It's amazing that the press gives space to this kind of pirralha."

"Pirralha" is a derogatory term in Portuguese that translates to "brat."

Instagram | @gretathunberg

Thunberg is currently attending the COP25 summit in Madrid, where she has addressed roughly 25,000 attendees from 200 countries about the climate crisis.

While much of what was shared at COP25 was certainly worrying, she didn't feel as though we're completely powerless.

Instagram | @gretathunberg

After all, she also addressed the massive democratic power that each and every citizen holds when it comes to enacting positive change.

Shortly after the Brazilian President's comments, Thunberg changed her Twitter bio to "pirralha."

Instagram | @jairmessiasbolsonaro

This clap-back is reminiscent of her Twitter bio change after President Trump called her "a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future" earlier this year.

h/t: CNN