SAO PAULO Hundreds of people in Sao Paulos Paraisopolis slums have taken to the streets to protest against local police three days after nine young people died in a stampede during a police operation at a funk music party.
SAO PAULO — Hundreds of people in Sao Paulo’s Paraisopolis slums have taken to the streets to protest against local police three days after nine young people died in a stampede during a police operation at a funk music party.
Police have said they were pursuing suspects that had fired at them, but several witnesses blamed officers for Sunday’s tragedy, saying police forced partygoers into narrow passages.
The protesters marched Wednesday to the Sao Paulo governor’s office singing “It was not a tragedy! It was murder!”
Sao Paulo Gov. João Doria said in a statement there would be a “rigorous investigation” of the incident. Sao Paulo police ombudsman Bendito Mariano said that “police need to change its protocol” after the deadly raid.