Pastor accuses GCM of persecution after approaching worship at Praça da Sé in SP

Vanderson published the video of the approach on Instagram and accused the GCM of “religious persecution”. In the post, he stated that the team had authorization from the city hall and that the agents tried to prevent the cult.

The recording shows the guards questioning whether the document presented allowed the use of a speaker and a microphone. They claim that they were responding to a report of a disturbance of the peace.

One of the agents says the problem was the sound equipment, "regardless of the content." He states that an express license from the Subprefecture would be required to use an amplifier. “Without this, we have to ask to turn it off,” he says in the recording.

Vanderson responds that the sound was low and that the authorization covered the equipment. In the video, he also asks for consideration for the work carried out with homeless people.

Full videos show that the service was interrupted during the approach and resumed after the discussion. A GCM granted an additional ten minutes to compensate for the downtime and instructed Vanderson to reduce the volume. "I'm going to give you another 10 minutes, because that's how long we interrupted you," he said.

Pastor says the initial order was to end the service. This moment does not appear in the recordings sent to UOL. In the videos, Vanderson reports the order to the other agents, who then allow the activity to continue.

Pastor says he saw intolerance in the way he was treated and in the attitude of the agents. Vanderson said they acted "in ignorance" and that one of the guards kept "glaring at me." He did not report offenses or comments contrary to the evangelical religion. "They demonstrated that they don't like it. I understood that," he declared.

Vanderson is the founder and leader of the Evangelical Church Assembly of God Ministry of Liberation, based in Maringá (PR). According to him, the institution was created almost 14 years ago.

The church holds monthly services in Praça da Sé. The group distributes food and Bibles and directs people interested in treatment to a recovery house maintained by the pastor in Paraná.

In 13 years of worshiping in the square, Vanderson says he has never been treated this way by GCM. He reports two previous approaches, when he used a megaphone without authorization, but claims that he obeyed the guidelines and started requesting a permit for each event. According to the pastor, this was the first controversy after he presented an authorization from City Hall.

In the interview, Vanderson stated that religious freedom should apply to everyone. When asked if he would defend the same right for a Candomblé priest, he also mentioned Umbanda, Catholics, Adventists, Spiritists and Evangelicals. He then maintained that there is persecution against evangelicals in the country. “There is a lot of religious intolerance against evangelicals,” he declared.

Pastor announces meeting with Nunes and other authorities. Vanderson stated that the meeting would be scheduled for Tuesday (28) following an invitation made by two deputies, whose names he did not provide. Despite articulation with parliamentarians, he denied having any political ties. "I'm not a politician, I'm not a candidate, I have no involvement in politics," he declared.

Vanderson is considering taking legal action after consulting lawyers. Asked about what he expects as an outcome of the case, he stated: "That the right of everyone, of all religions to express themselves, be respected, especially us evangelicals."

Documents presented by Vanderson prove that the event was authorized by the Sé Subprefecture. The term was issued on July 23 and allowed the Missions Project - Evangelical Social Action to take place on Saturday (25), from 12pm to 2pm.

In the authorization request, Vanderson informed that he would use a speaker and a microphone. The form was signed on June 25th and sent by email to the Subprefecture on July 1st. The request was registered as an administrative process two days later.

The final term, however, did not mention sound equipment. The document authorized the event and determined compliance with noise limits, but did not clarify whether the permission also covered the box and microphone.

Authorization required respect for noise limits; there is no measurement record. There is also no information, so far, that the sound volume has exceeded the permitted limit.

Pastor attributes the absence of equipment in the term to an error on the part of the City Hall. Vanderson acknowledges that the final document does not mention sound, but maintains that the authorization covered the structure informed in the form.

City Hall and GCM were contacted to clarify the approach and authorization.

The Municipal Urban Security Secretariat was questioned about the complaint, the possible noise measurement, the recording of the occurrence and the guidance given by the agents. The City Hall and Subprefecture of Sé were asked about the use of the speaker and microphone and the need for a specific license. The text will be updated if there is feedback.

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