Deaths from police intervention rose 34.4% in the first four months of 2025 compared with the same period last year.

On Tuesday, activists of “The Popular Youth Uprising” staged a peaceful protest outside the residence of Rio de Janeiro Governor Claudio Castro.

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Coinciding with International Youth Day, the rally condemned the rise in police violence in the state and demanded justice for the deaths of young people and children at the hands of security forces.

Under the slogan “Black Youth Want to Live,” demonstrators demanded that police officers involved in the killings be held accountable.

Recently, the Justice Ministry of Justice confirmed that deaths from police intervention rose 34.4% in the first four months of 2025 compared with the same period last year, increasing from 212 to 285 cases.

Activist Larissa Vulcao said young people are victims of “a project of extermination” that, under the guise of a so-called public security policy, strips youth in poor neighborhoods of their right to live.

The text reads, “The Popular Youth Uprising staged a protest this morning outside the home of Jose Antonio Nogueira, one of Rubens Paiva’s torturers. It’s moving to see young people organized, denouncing the crimes of the dictatorship, and fighting for truth, memory, and justice!”

The protest also served as a space to honor Herus Guimaraes, a 24-year-old killed June 8 during an operation by the Special Police Operations Battalion (BOPE) in the Santo Amaro community.

“Favela residents are not criminals. My son was a worker; he had a future ahead of him,” said Herus’ father, Fernando Guimaraes.

Also taking part in the protest were Jackeline Oliveira, mother of Kathlen Romeu, and Paula de Oliveira, mother of Jonathan, who both recalled their children, also victims of police violence. At the event, former city council member Monica Cunha criticized Governor Castro.

In February, the Popular Youth Uprising used the protest method known as “escracho” to stage an action against former Gen. Antonio Belham, accused of crimes during Brazil’s military dictatorship.

Currently, Police violence in Brazil remains a persistent problem. In 2020, police killed 6,416 people nationwide, according to data from the Brazilian Public Security Forum. The Security Observatory Network reported that 1,245 people were killed in Rio de Janeiro that same year.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: Brasil de Fato – Popular Youth Uprising

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