Dancer is buried amid protests and clashes in Rio de Janeiro
The dead body of dancer Douglas Rafael, allegedly killed by the police, was buried early this afternoon on Thursday (Apr. 24) at the São João Batista cemetery, in Rio de Janeiro’s South Zone, amid great commotion and shouts of “justice” and “murderous police.”
Before his grave was closed, people attending the Douglas’s burial were singing funk songs and protesting against police brutality. According to his mother, who plans to appeal to Amnesty International, the young man was tortured to death.
After the burial, residents staged a demonstration on their way back to Pavão-Pavãozinho, walking through the main streets of Copacabana, one of Rio’s top destination among tourists. Protesters carried posters with messages against police violence and called for justice.
The act was closely followed by the military police, who eventually clashed with the demonstrators making use of stun grenades and tear gas to disperse the crowd, while some of the protesters threw objects and garbage bags at the officers.
The atmosphere in the area remained tense until late in the day, and commercial establishments shut their doors.
Translated by Fabrício Ferreira
Fonte: Dancer is buried amid protests and clashes in Rio de Janeiro
