Post by : Rameen Ariff

Rio de Janeiro, Nov 1, 2025: Streets of Brazil’s favelas erupted in anger as hundreds of protesters marched against the country’s deadliest police operation in history, which left more than 120 people dead earlier this week in Rio de Janeiro.

The operation, aimed at dismantling the Comando Vermelho (Red Command) drug gang, has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation from human rights organizations and international bodies, including the United Nations, which has called for an independent investigation.

On Friday, demonstrators filled the narrow streets of Vila Cruzeiro, one of Rio’s most densely populated favelas, chanting slogans like “Out with Castro, stop the massacres!” — a direct message to Rio Governor Claudio Castro, who defended the operation as a “success” against what he called “narcoterrorists.”

Protesters held signs reading “120 lives lost is not a success” and “Castro has blood on his hands.” Among the demonstrators was a young boy wearing a T-shirt smeared with red paint, symbolizing the bloodshed, holding a sign that read: “Children should be able to play; the favela wants peace.”

Residents described the operation as a day of horror, with many claiming police blocked movement and fired indiscriminately. Lucas Azevedo, a local moto-taxi driver, said: “They shot at us, threw tear gas, and treated everyone as a criminal.”

Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticized the handling of the operation, accusing police of failing to preserve crime scenes or maintain evidence properly, raising concerns about possible extrajudicial killings.

“There is deep pain and indignation, but we stand together to ensure this never happens again,” said Monica Benicio, widow of slain councilor Marielle Franco, who herself became a symbol of resistance after her assassination in 2018.

Authorities claim that out of the 120 dead, 99 were identified as gang members, many with prior criminal records. However, local families dispute the figures, alleging that innocent residents were among those killed.

Despite the backlash, opinion polls show a majority of Brazilians support the raid, reflecting a divided nation on the issue of crime and justice.

In response to the uproar, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced a bill proposing a minimum 30-year sentence for gang members, pledging tougher action against organized crime while urging restraint in law enforcement operations.

As tensions rise, Brazil once again stands at a crossroads between security and human rights, as the world watches to see how the government balances justice with compassion.

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