Brazilian lawmakers Duda Salabert and Erika Hilton were included in a police suspect book in the state of Pernambuco, sparking accusations of racism, and transphobia. The incident underscores growing concerns about discriminatory practices within Brazilian law enforcement.
Federal Deputy Duda Salabert (PDT-MG) reported on Tuesday, March 24, that her photo, along with that of Federal Deputy Erika Hilton (Psol-SP), appeared in a Pernambuco Civil Police suspect book. Salabert shared the information through a post on her social media accounts.
“This is exceptionally serious! This is institutional racism and transphobia. I have already taken legal action. We will not accept that the identity of trans women becomes a criterion for suspicion,” Salabert wrote.
According to an official communication from the Public Defender’s Office of the State of Pernambuco, a police investigation was initiated on April 8, 2025, at the Police Station of the Second District of Boa Vista, in the state capital of Recife, to investigate a cell phone theft in the neighborhood. The office stated that a photographic identification procedure was conducted 40 days later, presenting six photos, including those of Erika and Duda.
“The only explanation for the inclusion of these photographs in the procedure is the fact that both parliamentarians are Black and trans women — which unequivocally demonstrates that the selection criterion adopted by the police authority was belonging to an identity group based on gender and race, and not any individualized resemblance to the physical description of the suspect provided by the victim,” the Public Defender’s Office said.
Page from the suspect book containing photos of Duda Salabert and Erika Hilton
On Wednesday, March 25, Erika stated on X (formerly Twitter) that she “demanded answers” from Pernambuco Governor Raquel Lyra (PSD). “This is incompetence, discrimination, and yes, transphobia,” the lawmaker wrote.
Hilton also said that “the irresponsible employ of photographic identification needs to stop.” “This is putting innocent people in jail while the real criminals remain free,” she declared.
Also on Wednesday, Raquel spoke with Duda and Erika by phone. The governor apologized to the deputies. Through a post on X, the state executive chief said she had ordered a “rigorous investigation with the opening of a process in the Ombudsman of the Secretariat of Social Defense.”
The Secretariat of Social Defense of Pernambuco did not respond to a request for comment from Jovem Pan as of the close of this report. The opportunity remains open.
