Public Note #10 – In repudiation of police violence in the community of Paraisópolis

The Dom Paulo Evaristo Arns Commission for the Defense of Human Rights – the Arns Commission – goes public to express its shock at the death of 9 adolescents and young people in the community of Paraisópolis, in the South Zone of the capital of São Paulo, under the responsibility of the Military Police of the State of São Paulo.

The members of the Arns Commission stand in full solidarity with the family members of Denys Henrique Quirino da Silva, 16 years old; Marcos Paulo Oliveira dos Santos, 16 years old; Gustavo Cruz Xavier, 14 years old; Dennys Guilherme dos Santos Franca, 16 years old; Gabriel Rogério de Moraes, 20 years old; Bruno Gabriel dos Santos, 22 years old; Eduardo Silva, 21 years old; Mateus dos Santos Costa, 23 years old; and Luara Victoria de Oliveira, 18 years old. And we express the deepest indignation at the absolute lack of respect for human life shown by State agents.

The Arns Commission has decided that it will closely monitor the investigations on the case, which must be carried out transparently and effectively, with the objective of making a complete investigation of those accountable.

The Arns Commission will also take its indignation to the governor of the State of São Paulo, as well as to the Prosecutor General of Justice and the General Public Defender so that concrete measures are taken in order to prevent episodes of serious human rights violations like this from happening again.

Finally, the Arns Commission calls on all sectors of society to say “enough” to the State’s arbitrariness and violence, which mainly affects the young and Black population that lives in Brazilian peripheries.

Episodes like this violate rights and dishonor public authority and law enforcement officials.