Emicida is arrested and 300 families are violently evicted in Belo Horizonte.
Police for those who need them? A rapper, who has been singing his powerful lyrics across the country for years, is arrested in the capital of Minas Gerais for disrespecting authority. In the Eliana Silva community, 300 poor families are violently evicted.
Minas 247 - Two events this weekend sparked controversy and reignited the debate about the excessive use of violence by the police. The most talked-about case, involving a public figure, is the arrest of rapper Emicida. He was detained Sunday night for "contempt of authority."
Before the song "Dedo na Ferida," which the singer always performs at his shows across the country, Emicida made the following statement to the audience at the Palco Hip Hop Festival, which was taking place in the Barreiro neighborhood of Belo Horizonte:
“First of all, we are all Eliana Silva, right? Raise your middle finger to the police who evict the poorest families, raise your middle finger to the politicians who don't respect the population, and come with us on this one. Telling them all to fuck off, right, BH? The streets are ours.”
The police officers present at the scene considered the tone offensive enough to justify the rapper's arrest. Emicida was referring to the eviction of the Eliana Silva community in Barreiro de Baixo, also in Belo Horizonte. On Friday, 300 families were evicted by the police, who destroyed about 80 shacks on the site. There are accusations of excessive violence. According to Frei Gilvander, from the Pastoral Land Commission, three people were assaulted, including a professor from UFMG (Federal University of Minas Gerais) who was trying to mediate the negotiation. The eviction was carried out by 400 police officers – more than one per family living in Eliana Silva.
In Emicida's arrest, the police report records phrases different from those seen in the video where the singer performs the song "Dedo na Ferida" (Finger on the Wound). The police allege that he said the following: "I support the invasion of Eliana Silva's land, in the Barreiro region, they have to invade, raise your middle fingers, point them at the police, because they all deserve to be screwed." The rapper denies that he addressed the military police officers working at the event.
The police action generated much controversy on the internet and social media, especially among people from Minas Gerais. Check out some examples:
Regarding Emicida's arrest, on Facebook.
"Every police van has a bit of a slave ship in it..."
- “I arrive in Belo Horizonte and receive the news that Emicida was arrested in the capital for exercising his right to freedom of expression. And that the traditional celebration of Clube Atlético Mineiro's victory ended early because the police sprayed pepper spray everywhere, dispersing the crowd.”
- "What a MESS, huh, PMMG?!?!?! Filing a botched report to arrest Emicida"
"Brazilians really like to say they live in a free country, even after Emicida was arrested in Belo Horizonte for singing a protest song to the police..."
Regarding the eviction of the Eliana Silva community, on Facebook:
"We are all Eliana Silva, Dandara, Pinheirinho, Sister Dorothy, Camilo Torres... !!!"
"Hey, Minas Gerais judiciary... Meanwhile, the streets of the southern zone are getting a new layer of asphalt."
"National disgrace! How awful, Mr. Lacerda. Dignity for the people of Belo Horizonte, urgently needed!"