Protesters storm into shelter and burn Venezuelan immigrants’ belongings

Residents of Mucajaí, a town in the northern Roraima state, held a demonstration on Monday afternoon (Mar. 19) and subsequently set fire to the belongings of Venezuelans living in a municipal shelter downtown.

The protest was carried out after locals were outraged by the death of a Brazilian, which allegedly took place during a fight with Venezuelans last Saturday (17) at a bar.

According to the Municipal Guard, the protest started at around 5 pm and was organized after the supposed brawl. “The demonstration had been scheduled and was meant to be peaceful, but sadly was used as an opportunity for another end,” Commandant Wanited Correia Oliveira said over the phone.

In a video circulating online, demonstrators are seen calling for justice during the rally. “We’re Brazilians, we’re dignified, we have character. They [the Venezuelans] have crossed the line!” they say in the video.

On social media, locals say the Venezuelans brought new problems to the city. “We have to take action. Unfortunately, among hard workers, there are lots of people who are up to no good—they’re thieves, they’re violent, and they’re a threat to our families,” an internet user said. In another post, someone describes the invasion at the shelter as a response to the death of a Brazilian killed Saturday in Mucajaí.

Another user, from Venezuela replies, saying that “there are people in Venezuela who left their country to work for the love of their families.”

In 2010, official data showed that the population of Mucajaí totaled about 14 thousand people. Last year, this figure surged to 16,852 after a partial count.

Agência Brasil contacted the town authorities, who pledged to investigate before making any comments on the matter. Other authorities and law enforcement agencies have not uttered an opinion thus far.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira