Several activist groups joined forces for a march in Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana on Monday to protest against police violence in the city’s slum neighbourhoods.<br /><br />Dozens of people have been killed recently as special slum police cracked down ahead of the World Cup, but the militarised force is hated by the poor and has a bad reputation for violence.<br /><br />Football tourists took photos as the march went past them, with one banner that read “The party in the stadiums is not worth the tears in the Favelas”.<br /><br />“This is a protest against the Cup and state violence, especially the UPP slum police. I live in Manguinhos and since the UPP have arrived five people have been murdered by the hands of the state,” said one activist.<br /><br />“My son, Jonathan de Oliveira Lima was killed by the police, shot in the back by the UPP,” said one mother.<br /><br />Another three people, including a police officer, died in the Alemao favela on Sunday after two shooting incidents. Several people were injured.
