A Boy's Killing Stirs Black Lives Matter Protests in Brazil
2020-06-23
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1The minute Rafaela Matos heard gunshots and saw helicopters over her Rio de Janeiro neighborhood, she immediately dropped to her knees to pray.
2She asked God to protect her fourteen-year-old son, João Pedro.
3Then she called the boy's phone.
4"Be calm," João Pedro texted her, saying he was safe in his aunt's house.
5Just minutes later, Brazilian police burst through the door and fired their weapons.
6They shot the teenager in the stomach.
7He did not survive the attack.
8But his parents would not learn that for many hours.
9Police did not even tell them where there son had been taken.
10João Pedro Matos Pinto was among 600 people killed by police this year in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro.
11That is almost double the number killed by U.S. police during the same period in America, which has twenty times more people.
12Like João Pedro, most of the 600 dead were black or mixed-race and lived in the city's poorest neighborhoods, called "favelas."
13The Rio de Janeiro State Public Prosecutor's Office recently described the local police as the "deadliest" in Brazil even though the state, it noted, "is not among the ten most violent states in the country."
14As the Black Lives Matter movement brings hundreds of thousands to the streets worldwide, protestors angry about João Pedro's death are organizing the largest gatherings against police violence in years on the streets of Rio.
15Protester João Gabriel Moreira said, "They kill teenager after teenager in their homes every day. We're here because we need to be."
16Moreira made the comment at a June 10 protest.
17The 19-year-old civil engineering student added that he had never demonstrated about anything before this year.
18"Kill a young black man in a favela, it's seen as normal - he must be a drug dealer," Moreira said.
19Racism has always been hidden in Brazil, he said.
20"That's why so few of us are here. If Brazil had racial consciousness, this street would be filled."
21Rio police said they said they were involved in a joint search operation with military and federal police when they killed João Pedro on May eighteenth.
22A federal investigator on the case, Eduardo Benones, said no evidence of illegal activity was found at the site of the raid.
23Police put João Pedro on a helicopter after the shooting.
24But, they never took him to a hospital.
25And officials gave no information to his parents about where he was or how badly he was hurt.
26A social media campaign quickly spread the message that João Pedro was missing.
27His body was found the next day - inside a police forensic center.
28Neilton Pinto is the boy's father. "Good people live in the favela, people with families," he said.
29"I'm sure if this were in wealthy areas, police wouldn't act this way, breaking down the house of someone good."
30Benones seeks to hold the Brazilian state responsible for the teenager's death.
31He said witness reports show that João Pedro was not a threat.
32Benones argues the boy died as a result of systemic racism in law enforcement.
33"You can't say it's racism of that police officer, but a practice of police forces not taking care when dealing with the black population."
34Both President Jair Bolsonaro and Rio state Governor Wilson were elected on a campaign of strong law and order.
35Both have said police should be widely protected from legal action when they use deadly force in the line of duty.
36The Rio civil police department said that João Pedro's death is under investigation and that three officers have been suspended in connection with the case.
37Rio's military police did not answer several requests for comments.
38On June 5, Brazil's Supreme Court ruled in favor of a ban on police operations in favelas until the coronavirus crisis has ended.
39João Pedro parents attended a demonstration for the first time June 7.
40His mother said hearing the protesters call out his name helped ease their pain a little.
41I'm Alice Bryant.
1The minute Rafaela Matos heard gunshots and saw helicopters over her Rio de Janeiro neighborhood, she immediately dropped to her knees to pray. She asked God to protect her fourteen-year-old son, João Pedro. 2Then she called the boy's phone. 3"Be calm," João Pedro texted her, saying he was safe in his aunt's house. 4Just minutes later, Brazilian police burst through the door and fired their weapons. They shot the teenager in the stomach. 5He did not survive the attack. But his parents would not learn that for many hours. Police did not even tell them where there son had been taken. 6João Pedro Matos Pinto was among 600 people killed by police this year in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro. That is almost double the number killed by U.S. police during the same period in America, which has twenty times more people. 7'Teenager after teenager...' 8Like João Pedro, most of the 600 dead were black or mixed-race and lived in the city's poorest neighborhoods, called "favelas." 9The Rio de Janeiro State Public Prosecutor's Office recently described the local police as the "deadliest" in Brazil even though the state, it noted, "is not among the ten most violent states in the country." 10As the Black Lives Matter movement brings hundreds of thousands to the streets worldwide, protestors angry about João Pedro's death are organizing the largest gatherings against police violence in years on the streets of Rio. 11Protester João Gabriel Moreira said, "They kill teenager after teenager in their homes every day. We're here because we need to be." 12Moreira made the comment at a June 10 protest. The 19-year-old civil engineering student added that he had never demonstrated about anything before this year. 13"Kill a young black man in a favela, it's seen as normal - he must be a drug dealer," Moreira said. Racism has always been hidden in Brazil, he said. "That's why so few of us are here. If Brazil had racial consciousness, this street would be filled." 14Rio police said they said they were involved in a joint search operation with military and federal police when they killed João Pedro on May eighteenth. A federal investigator on the case, Eduardo Benones, said no evidence of illegal activity was found at the site of the raid. 15Police put João Pedro on a helicopter after the shooting. But, they never took him to a hospital. And officials gave no information to his parents about where he was or how badly he was hurt. A social media campaign quickly spread the message that João Pedro was missing. His body was found the next day - inside a police forensic center. 16Neilton Pinto is the boy's father. "Good people live in the favela, people with families," he said. 17Holding the state accountable 18"I'm sure if this were in wealthy areas, police wouldn't act this way, breaking down the house of someone good." 19Benones seeks to hold the Brazilian state responsible for the teenager's death. He said witness reports show that João Pedro was not a threat. Benones argues the boy died as a result of systemic racism in law enforcement. 20"You can't say it's racism of that police officer, but a practice of police forces not taking care when dealing with the black population." 21Both President Jair Bolsonaro and Rio state Governor Wilson were elected on a campaign of strong law and order. Both have said police should be widely protected from legal action when they use deadly force in the line of duty. 22The Rio civil police department said that João Pedro's death is under investigation and that three officers have been suspended in connection with the case. Rio's military police did not answer several requests for comments. 23On June 5, Brazil's Supreme Court ruled in favor of a ban on police operations in favelas until the coronavirus crisis has ended. 24João Pedro parents attended a demonstration for the first time June 7. His mother said hearing the protesters call out his name helped ease their pain a little. 25I'm Alice Bryant. 26The Associated Press reported this story. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 27___________________________________________ 28Words in This Story 29knee - n. the joint that bends at the middle of your leg 30aunt - n. the sister of your father or mother or the wife of your uncle 31forensic - adj. relating to the use of scientific knowledge or methods in solving crimes 32practice - n. something that is done often or regularly 33teenager - n. someone who is between 13 and 19 years old 34consciousness - n. knowledge that is shared by a group of people 35prosecutor - n. a lawyer who represents the side in a court case that accuses a person of a crime and who tries to prove that the person is guilty