Last Tuesday, I watched the film Favela Rising, which tells the story of Anderson Sa, a former drug runner in the favelas (slums) of Rio de Janeiro. Anderson turned his life around and became the face of a new movement in Brazil that began in the most feared slum within Rio—AfroReggae. The group has grown immensely since its inception, and now promotes various types of education such as dance, sports, and percussion classes aimed at keeping the youth away from gangs and drug trafficking within the slums.
The goal of ‘Grupo Cultural AfroReggae’ (GCAR) is to encourage children to engage in music as a means of community instead of becoming involved in the dangerous gang culture ingrained within the favelas. After the implementation of GCAR programs, the number of those in gangs in Anderson’s original slum has dropped to less than 30 from in the hundreds, and GCAR currently operates over 65 projects. Anderson initially turned from his former life of crime and violence to one promoting peace after what is known as ‘the massacre’ where 21 innocent civilians were killed by police forces and his brother was killed. He began to question his life, and strove to find a way to help end the incessant violence and combat the child soldiers the drug gangs employed.
Today, there has been an influx of stories in the news regarding the recent conflicts between gangs in the slums and the Brazilian police, attempting to show the world they have control of the favelas in time for the Olympics. The police brutality that has occurred in the past week has left over 50 people dead, and although police claim they have taken control of the desired favelas, shooting continues and the drug dealers will carry on rebelling against the police.
I agree with the Amnesty International report stating that the police are being too aggressive in this situation. Keeping in mind the constant conflict between the favelas and police, and the favela’s assumption that all police are corrupt, violent, and inefficient, any confrontation between the two will be charged with historical animosity and prejudice. I believe the police, if they wish to reduce violence, should follow the example set by GCAR and Anderson, promoting alternative forms of involvement to keep youth away from the gangs. The issue must be addressed at the roots, and the continuous violence may temporarily result in a police victory, it most likely just encourages others to join the gangs as revenge for the innocents killed.
The goal of ‘Grupo Cultural AfroReggae’ (GCAR) is to encourage children to engage in music as a means of community instead of becoming involved in the dangerous gang culture ingrained within the favelas. After the implementation of GCAR programs, the number of those in gangs in Anderson’s original slum has dropped to less than 30 from in the hundreds, and GCAR currently operates over 65 projects. Anderson initially turned from his former life of crime and violence to one promoting peace after what is known as ‘the massacre’ where 21 innocent civilians were killed by police forces and his brother was killed. He began to question his life, and strove to find a way to help end the incessant violence and combat the child soldiers the drug gangs employed.
Today, there has been an influx of stories in the news regarding the recent conflicts between gangs in the slums and the Brazilian police, attempting to show the world they have control of the favelas in time for the Olympics. The police brutality that has occurred in the past week has left over 50 people dead, and although police claim they have taken control of the desired favelas, shooting continues and the drug dealers will carry on rebelling against the police.
I agree with the Amnesty International report stating that the police are being too aggressive in this situation. Keeping in mind the constant conflict between the favelas and police, and the favela’s assumption that all police are corrupt, violent, and inefficient, any confrontation between the two will be charged with historical animosity and prejudice. I believe the police, if they wish to reduce violence, should follow the example set by GCAR and Anderson, promoting alternative forms of involvement to keep youth away from the gangs. The issue must be addressed at the roots, and the continuous violence may temporarily result in a police victory, it most likely just encourages others to join the gangs as revenge for the innocents killed.
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