"The police van that carries the lifeless black man is the same one that brings the weapons to the favela," says André Constantine.
This statement comes from favela activist André Constantine, commenting on the death of 14-year-old João Pedro, murdered this week by the Military Police inside his home during an operation in the Salgueiro Complex, Rio de Janeiro. “This is not the role of the State, this is not the role of the police. It is not the role of the police to kill.” Watch on TV 247.
247 - André Constantine, a member of the Favela Não se Cala (Favela Will Not Be Silenced) and Parem de Nos Matar (Stop Killing Us) movements, commented. the death of 14-year-old boy João Pedro, murdered last Monday (18) by the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro inside a house during an operation in the Salgueiro Complex.
For Constantine, João Pedro's death is yet another one occurring amidst the genocide of Black people and those living in favelas. “In every genocidal process there is an ideological process. It anesthetizes people, makes them insensitive to these deaths caused by genocide. They construct a criminalization of the enemy, an animalization of the enemy, and a dehumanization of the enemy.”
“There are narratives that we need to deconstruct. When the police kill young people and the reporter announces that 5 died, but that 3 of them had a criminal record, it's as if having a criminal record gives the police carte blanche to kill you. That's not the role of the State, that's not the role of the police. It's not the police's role to kill; we cannot confuse justice with revenge. The police van that carries the lifeless black body is the same one that brings drugs and weapons into the favela,” he added.
André Constantine also spoke about the importance of electing parliamentarians from the favela, so that this segment of the population can be represented before the public authorities. “I am expressing the feelings of a people, of a segment of society that lacks representation. The favelas need to understand the importance of electing favela residents, because I always emphasize that only what is felt makes sense. If you elect a favela resident to represent you in positions of power, they feel what you feel.”