One day after a police operation at a funk party left nine people dead in Paraisópolis, Gov. João Doria (PSDB) said that policies to crack down on the parties will continue.
"Public security policy will not change. The actions in the community of Paraisópolis and other communities of São Paulo, whether by obedience to the law of silence, by seeking and seizing drugs or theft, will continue. This fact will not inhibit security actions. But it does require investigation," Doria said at a news conference on Monday (2).
The governor said he intends to create "healthy leisure options for young people" on the outskirts and that the episode cannot be classified as police lethality.
The tragedy in the favela in the early hours of Sunday took place at an event with more than 5,000 people, known as the 17th Baile or just DZ7. Images and reports show that police cornered the crowd as it threw gas bombs into narrow alleys — some stumbled and were crushed to death. The victims were between 14 and 23 years old.
The Military Police said three soldiers were patrolling near the ball when suspects shot at them on a motorcycle. The agents fled, firing towards the event. That would have been the trigger for the start of the rush, according to the corporation.
The Secretary of Public Security, General João Camilo Campos, besides defending the PM's performance, talked about finding other possible culprits, such as the organizers of the funk party.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon