Protesters in Brazil demand justice for slain African refugee

Rio de Janeiro, Feb 5 (EFE).- Hundreds of Brazilians took part Saturday in protests over the brutal murder of a Congolese refugee in Rio de Janeiro.

One of the demonstrations took place at the scene of the crime in front of a kiosk on Rio’s Barra da Tijuca beach, while another unfolded in the heart of Sao Paulo, Brazil’s largest city.

The demonstration in Rio was peaceful aside from some tense moments when some in the crowd tore down the sign of the Tropicalia kiosk, where 24-year-old Moïse Kabagambe was beaten, kicked and stabbed to death on Jan. 24.

The lynching was captured on the kiosk’s security camera and three of the four assailants are in custody.

Kabagambe, who had lived in Brazil since 2014 after fleeing the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was killed while trying to collect 200 reais ($37) he was owed for two days’ work at the kiosk.

The crime has sparked widespread outrage from politicians, celebrities, civic organizations and the general public, while figures in Brazil’s black consciousness movement say that racism was a factor in the murder.

After remaining silent for several days, the right-wing government of President Jair Bolsonaro eventually joined in the chorus of condemnation.

“We lament the barbarity we see in those images. Enough of violence in this nation,” the minister of Women, the Family and Human Rights, Damares Alves, said.

She also demanded “punishment” for the perpetrators. EFE

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