São Paulo govnt promises to investigate violence against journalists in protests

The Secretary of Public Security of the state of São Paulo, Fernando Grella, stated on Monday (Feb. 24) that the intervention of the Military Police during a protest called “Não vai ter Copa” (Portuguese for “there will be no World Cup”), which assembled around a thousand demonstrators last Sunday (22), was successful, although banks were vandalized, protesters clashed with the police, and 260 people were taken to jail.

On the allegations of violence against journalists, Grella said that extreme cases will be investigated: “Journalists and the police share the same space. The police try to maintain order and journalists act like the eyes of society, trying to depict everything that happens. Every single report of abuse will be investigated.”

According to him, the Military Police made 200 identification vests available to journalists and plan to do the same in demonstrations: “The police itself will invite journalism organizations collaboratively to come up with a protocol which ensures better working conditions for everybody.”

Journalists from four communication agencies reported they were victims of police violence. Photographer Bruno Santos, from Portal Terra, suffered blows on the back, fell down, and his equipment was smashed with a truncheon. Reporter Reynaldo Tortullo, from daily Folha de São Paulo was immobilized, dragged about and thrown onto the floor. Journalist Sergio Roxo, from newspaper O Globo, who was making a video with his cellphone, suffered a blow on his neck and had his device destroyed. A third reporter, from news website G1, Paulo Toledo Piza, was prevented from working.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira