Brazil police arrest journalists reporting on Rio evictions
Source: Guardian
Brazil police arrest journalists reporting on Rio evictions
Rene Silva and Renato Moura held while reporting from Alemão favela, as activists are attacked by officers using teargas
Jonathan Watts in Rio de Janeiro
Sunday 2 October 2016 14.17 EDT
Brazilian police have arrested a prominent community journalist in the Alemão favela complex of Rio de Janeiro, underlining the authorities’ often weak respect for media freedom, particularly when it comes to coverage of poor neighbourhoods.
Rene Silva, the founder of Voz da Comunidades (Community Voice), was detained alongside a photographer, Renato Moura, on Saturday night as they attempted to report on the forced relocation of residents who had reoccupied their demolished homes in the Skol community.
Police first seized Moura to prevent him from taking pictures of the evictions. Silva used his mobile phone to live-broadcast what was happening, until he was handcuffed, pepper-sprayed and taken to the police station where he was charged with contempt of authority and trespass.
When other community activists attempted to record what was happening, they too came under assault from police using teargas and rubber bullets. Video of the start of the incident shows police harassing the journalist and knocking a phone from his hand.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/02/brazil-police-arrest-journalists-reporting-on-rio-evictions