Amarildo

"Where is Amarildo?" The sudden disappearance of construction worker's assistant Amarildo Dias de Souza, in July 2013, became emblematic of a reality that almost always seems naturalized into the Rio de Janeiro landscape: police violence and abuse.

Amarildo left his house, in Rocinha, to buy lemon and garlic to season the fish he had caught for his family. He never returned. Had it not been for the determination of his wife, Elizabete, the case would probably not have taken on the proportions it did, making the indignant question echo across the entire country.

Image description: This is a photograph of a nighttime demonstration in Rio de Janeiro, in the neighborhood of Rocinha. In the central part of the image, a man holds a white sign with blue lettering that reads "Cadê o Amarildo?" ("Where is Amarildo?") and "Fora Cabral!!" ("Out with Cabral!!"). Behind him, other demonstrators also hold signs. To the right, people watch from the balcony of a building. In the background, there are urban buildings and artificial lighting.

Witnesses had seen Amarildo being taken by military police officers to the local headquarters of the Pacifying Police Unit (UPP) to give a statement. The reasons for this were never explained. The courts concluded that, after arriving at the UPP base, Amarildo was tortured to death. His body has not been found to this day.

Image description: This is a photograph of a woman standing in front of a building bearing the sign UPP RIO DE JANEIRO. She is wearing a white T-shirt with a photo of Amarildo de Souza and the text "BRIGEMOS JUSTIÇA". In the background, there are police officers in black uniforms and helmets, some on motorcycles. The woman is at the center of the image, while the police officers are behind her, occupying the background space.

In March 2019, four of the 12 military police officers convicted at first instance for the torture, death, and concealment of the bricklayer's assistant's body were acquitted. His family — his wife, Bete, and their six children — still suffer to this day the grief, the stigma, and the financial hardships worsened by Amarildo's murder at the hands of State agents.