The American Museum of Natural History has said it is “deeply concerned” after it was sharply criticized for hosting an event that will honour Jair Bolsonaro, the president of Brazil who has backed aggressive cuts in environmental protections.
Bolsonaro is set to be honoured at the annual Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce black-tie gala, scheduled to take place at the Museum of Natural History in New York on 14 May.
The decision has caused outrage among activists dismayed at Bolsonaro’s rolling back of protections for the Amazon rainforest to usher in mining and logging companies despite protests from native groups. The rightwing president has also been condemned for views seen as misogynist and racist, as well as his praise for Brazil’s former military dictatorship.
“The fact that American Museum of Natural History would accept an event for something so counter to their own values, they should be ashamed themselves,” Priscila Neri, a Brazilian activist with the human rights group Witness, told Gothamist.
“In a moment when there’s been a rise of authoritarianism around the world, they’re giving a positive nod to a man who is rolling back human rights protections and scientific knowledge.”
Several museum employees and members have also attacked the institution for hosting Bolsonaro. In response, the museum said it was concerned and was reviewing the situation.
In a statement on Friday, the museum said: “The external, private event at which the current President of Brazil is to be honored, was booked at the Museum before the honoree was secured. We are deeply concerned, and the event does not in any way reflect the Museum’s position that there is an urgent need to conserve the Amazon Rainforest, which has such profound implications for biological diversity, indigenous communities, climate change, and the future health of our planet. We are exploring our options.”
The controversy is just the latest political storm to hit the museum. Last year, more than 200 scientists and academics urged the museum to cut its ties to board member Rebekah Mercer, a prominent donor to Donald Trump who has funded groups that deny the science of climate change.
A dinosaur wing of the museum is named after David Koch, a billionaire who has also attempted to undermine climate science and scupper regulations on greenhouse gas emissions.