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(CNN Spanish) - The president-elect of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, came out in defense of Brian Gallo, a young Argentine who was chairman of the presidential elections on Sunday in this country, and whose image went viral with derogatory comments for his clothing.
“The country that is coming will leave prejudices and discrimination behind. We are all Brian ”, wrote on Tuesday the elected president of Argentina, Alberto Fernández.
Fernández received Gallo this Wednesday.
President-elect Alberto Fernández @alferdez received Brian Gallo, the young man who was discriminated against in social networks because of his dress after being photographed while serving as a table authority during Sunday's elections. pic.twitter.com/FLI4NBsxRG
- CNN Argentina (@CNNArgentina) October 30, 2019
Gallo is a 22-year-old who lives in a popular quarter Barracks V, of the Moreno Party, in the province of Buenos Aires, according to TN, an affiliate of CNN in Spanish. The young man is the father of a four-year-old boy and lives with his wife, with whom he went to live when he was 15, he told TN.
In social networks several memes appeared with photos of Gallo being sworn in with phrases such as "If you vote in Moreno do not carry things of value", "vote because I stole you" and "vote and leave me the cel".
Always check which side of the wick you find. pic.twitter.com/5qI9sJY3bc
- Areco (@GastonNahuelAB) October 28, 2019
What first became a mockery on the Internet, caused outrage later, as relatives and acquaintances came out in defense of Gallo rejecting accusations against him that qualified him as a thief only because of his physical appearance.
"They took advantage of it there because they saw me with the visor, with the sports jacket and said: 'look at this face of a criminal' and they took a picture of me ... they made the meme," Gallo told TN.
He said he learned that he was the protagonist of the meme when a partner showed him his photo and although it bothered him "I didn't give him a ball," he said. But yes, he rejected the accusations against him being a criminal.
"If I were stealing, I wouldn't be like that," Gallo said, adding that he is a humble person who wants to work to make a house for his family.
One of the first that came out in defense of Gallo was his mother, who on Facebook said that his son went to fulfill a civic duty, "attended to people he did not know" and "always very kind and with respect." Verónica Sagitario rejected the accusations they made against her son by calling him "the kid choro", just for his clothes.
"I don't understand why there are people so but so lifeless that they want to make others dirty," he wrote. "Gentlemen, thank God, my son was never a jet (thief) and was always very humble and still is."
"Clothing does not make people, that's why the world is like for this kind of people ...", he added.
Mariel Fernández, elected mayor of Moreno for the Frente de Todos, also came out in his defense.
“Brian works in a cooperative, which is hired by the province of Buenos Aires, to clean up streams. In addition, he participates in the Club de Fútbol Casa 2000, helps as a volunteer. There sports practices and food service are provided for hundreds of children in the neighborhood. Added to that is part of the Youth groups of the Casa Pueblo, where they come together to reflect and accompany each other to have a healthy life, ”Fernandez wrote.
Know everyone that I am Brian too. And that in my youth along with other young people we decided to put together cultural centers to talk about our culture, to love and respect it. To deeply love who we are. And so we can fight for our rights.
- Mariel Fernández (@ marielfmoreno1) October 29, 2019
“The next mayor of Moreno is from your neighborhood. Hopefully we will ensure that other young people have your responsibility, your social commitment, your commitment to work and your political commitment to change the reality we don't like. I congratulate you and I am very proud of you, ”added the elected mayor of Moreno.
The outrage reached the president-elect of Argentina, who said on his Twitter account that under his government in Argentina "prejudices and discrimination will be left behind."
Gallo does not know who was the person who took the picture, but said he is likely to be sorry now, as many people have sent messages of support.
"I thank all the people, the president who wrote," Gallo told TN. "Thanks to this capable tomorrow we can be others."
It's viral