The death of cyclist Cláudio Rafael Landeiro on August 11 of this year in Copacabana has reignited the debate about the so-called "street justice" — the practice of imposing punishments outside official laws. He was beaten after being falsely accused of stealing a bicycle.
While lynchings occur sporadically on the streets, in communities dominated by drug trafficking and militia, this type of violence is routine. Criminal organizations establish their own codes of conduct, judge people, pass sentences, and impose punishments ranging from humiliation, physical assault, and death.
The article cites other recent cases, such as a soccer player shot in a barbershop in Recreio, as well as the apprehension of a minor involved in a collective rape of a 13-year-old girl who was subjected to a "drug trafficking tribunal."
For Júlia Quirino, a specialist in Security and Defense, the similarity between the case of Cláudio Rafael and what occurs in the favelas lies in the speed with which an accusation can turn into justification for punishing someone, without the right to defense or a fair trial.
