Rio’s militias go from vigilantes to feared gangsters

Posted by on
They’re seldom mentioned by officials and are almost never identified, but paramilitary groups are increasingly embedded in Rio de Janeiro – and, with the slaying of a prominent politician last month, are ever more brazen. When Marielle Franco, an outspoken activist for the rights of poor blacks in Rio’s violence-plagued favelas, was gunned down, the most unusual thing was that authorities firmly pointed the finger at the paramilitaries, or militias as they’re known locally.

from The Daily Star >> Live News https://ift.tt/2Fs0MP7