For a Legal Protection of Places of Hurtful Memory of the Military Dictatorship in Juiz de Fora, Brazil (1964-1985)

Abstract

Objective: The indication of the places of memory of the military dictatorship in Brazil is still incipient in this country. Thus, this work intends to indicate such places in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, protagonist of the 1964 coup to democracy, not only because General Mourão Filho’s troops were stationed there a materialization of what was already planned in the barracks; but because it was the headquarters of the Military Region, where its audit collected hearings from witnesses and organized trials, and civilian and military facilities were used as spaces for torture and serving sentences. Methodology: Through concepts such as “dark heritage” and “places of sensitive memory”, we will try to demonstrate how silencing is preponderant in local public policies, whether in the non-identification of these places, or in the listing processes that privilege aesthetic and stylistic aspects to the detriment of memories of the dictatorship. Originality: Since the places discussed in this article are not object of public policies in favour of collective memory, this work will indicate buildings that were places of State violence and generally go unnoticed in the city’s landscape. Conclusions: The erasure of the dictatorial past in Juiz de Fora, and in Brazil in general, is a strategy of covering up responsibilities.