Brazilian Police Reform Movement Gains Momentum Amidst Systemic Violence
A coalition of Brazilian police officers is pushing for reform and the demilitarization of law enforcement. Orlando Zaccone, a delegate from Rio de Janeiro, rose to prominence by challenging the narrative that linked bricklayer Amarildo de Souza to drug trafficking after his disappearance in 2013. In February, 12 out of 25 military police officers were found guilty of related offenses. Zaccone, who serves as the secretary-general of Leap Brasil, contends that militarized policing undermines democracy. Lieutenant Anderson Duarte points to more than 50,000 homicides each year as proof of a failing system. Cabo Elisandro Lotin claims that the police primarily serve to control the populace for the elite. Statistics reveal that police in Brazil kill an average of nine individuals daily. Despite facing repression, the movement persists, coinciding with legal actions addressing police violence.
Key facts
- Orlando Zaccone challenged the official narrative in the 2013 Amarildo de Souza case.
- Twelve police officers were convicted in February for crimes related to Amarildo's death.
- Zaccone is a member of the 'Policiais Antifascismo' Facebook page with 2,288 members.
- Lieutenant Anderson Duarte created the 'Policial Pensador' Facebook page with 3,813 members.
- Data shows nine people are killed daily by police in Brazil.
- Police-involved deaths increased 6.3% to 3,345 from 2014 to 2015.
- Cabo Elisandro Lotin states the police historically control 95% of the population for the elite.
- Sergeant Luciano Galesco was administratively arrested for complaining about food on Facebook.
Entities
Institutions
- Leap Brasil (Associação dos Agentes da Lei contra a Proibição)
- Policiais Antifascismo (Facebook page)
- Policial Pensador (Facebook page)
- Renaesp (Rede Nacional de Altos Estudos em Segurança Pública)
- Anaspra (Associação Nacional dos Praças)
- Aprasc (Associação dos Praças de Santa Catarina)
- Conasp (Conselho Nacional de Segurança Pública)
- Fórum Brasileiro de Segurança Pública
- Polícia Militar do Ceará
- Polícia Militar de Santa Catarina
- Polícia Militar de São Paulo
- Secretaria Nacional de Segurança Pública
- Secretaria de Segurança Pública do Ceará
- Defensoria Pública
- Tribunal de Justiça
- PSOL
- PSC
- PSDB
Locations
- Rio de Janeiro
- Brazil
- Favela da Rocinha
- Ceará
- Santa Catarina
- São Paulo
- Porto Feliz
- Mato Grosso
- Grão-Pará