Rio creates state day to reflect on the death of young black people

The government of Rio de Janeiro sanctioned the law that created the Day of Struggle Jovem Preto Vivo – João Pedro Matos Pinto, approved by the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro (Alerj) and forwarded to the Executive in February this year. The law, authored by state deputy Professor Josemar (PSOL), aims to create a commemorative date, to be celebrated annually on May 18, with the aim of raising awareness in society about the violence committed against young black people in the state.

Among the actions foreseen by the law is the holding of “events and educational campaigns aimed at stimulating debates about racism, incarceration and genocide of black and peripheral youth”, on the 18th and throughout the month of May. The text was published this Thursday (14), in Official State Gazette.

Fight Day honors João Pedro Matos Pinto, a 14-year-old teenager murdered with a rifle shot, in the back, by police officers on May 18, 2020, during an operation in Complexo do Salgueiro, in São Gonçalo, in Greater Rio.

“In a certain way, [a criação da data] It is a reparation, a way of keeping João Pedro’s memory alive. For me, it is a victory in the face of this search for Justice, which will soon turn four years old”, says João Pedro’s mother, Rafaela Matos. “It is always a mobilization, because this is still a long way from being over. Every day, a young black man dies in the favela.”

The three civil police officers accused of killing João Pedro were charged with qualified homicide. The case is ongoing at the 4th Criminal Court of São Gonçalo. In January of this year, the Public Ministry asked for the case to be judged by a popular jury.

Data from the 2023 Violence Atlas, released by the Institute for Applied Economic Research (Ipea) and the Brazilian Public Security Forum, show that, in 2021, 79% of homicides in Brazil had young black people as victims and that the homicide rate (per 100 thousand inhabitants) of black and brown people was three times greater than the rest of the population (white, yellow and indigenous).

The executive director of Amnesty International, Jurema Werneck, said that the creation of the date is important for reflection, but calls for effective actions to combat racist practices by agents of the State.

“We have presented a series of recommendations to the authorities to stop violence committed by state agents, especially those committed by police on duty. And we regret to note that the authorities continue to lead human rights violations and fail to take the necessary measures. Not surprisingly, both the STF and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights took strong decisions on this,” said Jurema.

*Collaborated with Rafael Cardoso