No Woman Should Be Jailed for Speaking Up

Luiza* is a hardworking woman and a mother, now facing criminal charges simply for protecting a women-only space. Since the incident, she hasn’t been able to find work. She is unemployed, without income—and doesn’t even own a cellphone.

She stood up for women’s safety. Now she needs us to stand up for her. Let’s help Luiza get back on her feet.

On October 14, 2022, Luiza was doing her job as a janitor at the Federal University of Paraíba, where she had worked for nine years.

While entering the women’s restroom with a colleague, she encountered a male student. Following long-standing workplace guidance, she calmly informed him that the bathroom was reserved for women.

What happened next shocked her. The student began recording her, accused her of transphobia, and demanded to speak with university officials. As they walked to the office of administrative director Luiz Adripaulo, the student continued filming, shouting insults, and publicly berating Luiza.

As reported by Reduxx , both Luiza and Adripaulo were later formally charged under Brazil’s “social racism” statute, a classification that stems from a 2019 Supreme Court decision extending anti-racism laws to include gender identity and sexual orientation. Their trial began in March 2025, and a verdict is expected soon. If convicted of “racial injury,” Luiza could face two to five years in prison.

This fundraiser is organized by MATRIA — Mulheres Associadas, Mães e Trabalhadoras do Brasil, a non-partisan organization dedicated to defending the rights of women and children, based on the material reality of sex. No woman should face prison for protecting herself. Stand with us—stand with Luiza.

*Luiza is a pseudonym used to protect the janitor’s identity.