Thousands Protest the Killing of a Congolese Refugee in Brazil

02/08/2022

Thousands have protested across Brazilian cities, from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo, after the murder of a 24-year-old Congolese refugee who was beaten to death last month. Moise Mugenyi Kabagambe was killed on January 24, assaulted by three men at a beach kiosk where he used to work. The attack was caught on security camera footage that police released to the public. His death sparked outrage and revulsion across the nation.  

The video shows assailants attacking the young man over the course of 13 minutes, holding him down and beating him with a rod, and continuing to do so even after he loses consciousness. They are later seen attempting chest compressions, then rolling his body over. The young man’s death mobilized anti-racism movements, with many denouncing an all-too-common scenario of the killing of a Black man. The murder happened during an electoral year, in which President Bolsonaro will aim for a second term, but protesters say his silence on this case shows how little he has done.  

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