Brazil is one of the most violent countries in the world. In contrast, prisoners—even those convicted of heinous crimes—are released by the state during holidays. Our politicians show no interest in cracking down on crime; in fact, sentences are being softened. Left‑wing intellectuals love to write essays claiming that criminals in Brazil are really “victims of society” because they haven’t had the same opportunities.
Then there are the so‑called “human rights” groups, who, as in the famous Eloá case, mobilized when police officers stepped on the kidnapper’s neck to immobilize him after he had opened fire on the victims.
Meanwhile, the population is totally against crime. People even support police brutality, a reflection of how dire the situation has become.
I’m genuinely surprised by the gap between what ordinary Brazilians think and the views of those who govern our country. This issue barely comes up in elections, except in vague, superficial terms. You’d think it could be a deciding factor—and yet it’s consistently ignored.
Photo by Florencia Potter