As the U.S. faced yet another school massacre —19 children and two teachers killed in Uvalde, Texas— Rio de Janeiro once again awoke with a massacre in one of the city’s infamous favelas, this time the Vila Cruzeiro.

Twenty-five people were killed by police in the second biggest massacre in Rio de Janeiro State’s history. Immediately after the violent police action, President Jair Bolsonaro congratulated police officers for having “neutralized” criminals.

In just one year, 181 people have been killed in 39 massacres in the state. In May 2021, the police carried out their deadliest operation to date, leaving 28 dead in the Jacarezinho favela. The police claim that all those killed were criminals and wanted drug traffickers, but residents denounce the excessive violence and summary executions in several of these actions. 

Full article at Latino Rebels’ website. Date of publication: 31/05/2022.