War and abuse against vulnerable populations
What happens after a slum community is evicted? The area surrounding the Sem Terra do Parque União community in the Maré complex has been dealing with instability and evictions since the 1980s. Although the area was reclaimed and divided into lots with the aim of providing affordable housing for vulnerable communities, vulnerability persists. What is the purpose of evictions and demolitions of irregular constructions? And what happens after families are evicted?
For the most recent eviction, in 2024, the reason given by the authorities and reproduced by the media is that the buildings aided drug traffickers in money laundering and were “luxurious” despite being irregular on paper. In other words, those who were living there, in the unfinished structures, were not vulnerable people, as they had access to a swimming pool—and were therefore supposedly complicit in or involved in drug trafficking.
This narrative is created to justify the use of the Brazilian Army against the country's own population, since, for them, it is a matter of organized crime and not vulnerable Brazilian citizens who deserve basic rights such as housing and health care.
Half a year later, many of the 40 homeless families still have nowhere to go, living on the streets of their own community. Sunk in indignity and obviously without access to the luxuries supposedly provided by organized crime, fights break out among them, weakening the potential for an organized resistance movement. It is impossible to organize against the narrative constructed
War and abuse against vulnerable populations
War and abuse against vulnerable populations br br br Police walk over the blood of people who were shot during shootouts in the favela
War and abuse against vulnerable populations
War and abuse against vulnerable populations br br br Police sweeping away the blood of people who were hit during shootings in the favela
War and abuse against vulnerable populations
Drug dealer s body arrives at hospital after intense shootout between police and drug traffickers in the slum
War and abuse against vulnerable populations
Police armored car window hit by rifle bullet during shootout in slum
War and abuse against vulnerable populations
Police officer walks among slum residents after a day of intense gunfire
War and abuse against vulnerable populations
Boy watches an army soldier during a shootout in the slum
War and abuse against vulnerable populations
Residents who were evicted from the slum watch from the window during intense gunfire in the slum
War and abuse against vulnerable populations
Residents who were evicted from the slum watch from the window during intense gunfire in the slum
War and abuse against vulnerable populations
Civil police collecting the body of a drug dealer killed during an intense shootout in the slum
War and abuse against vulnerable populations
Dog urinating on the body of a drug dealer killed during intense gunfire in the slum
War and abuse against vulnerable populations
Body of drug dealer killed during shootout in slum
War and abuse against vulnerable populations
Military police officer resting with the body of a drug dealer killed during a shootout in the slum in the background