Original: According to the official government site of the state of ParaÃ ba, the red stands for the blood due to the assassination of JoÃ # o Pessoa; the black represents the mourning following the assassination.
Simplified: The official government site of the state of ParaÃ ba says that the red is for the blood of the assassination of JoÃ # o Pessoa. The black is for the mourning after the assassination.