Clashes erupt in police killings protest in Brazil

Hundreds of people gared in front of Rio de Janeiro state government palace on Sunday to protest crimes committed by police against black people in Rio's working-class neighbourhoods, kwn as favelas.

protest, called "Black Lives Matter," was interrupted when police used tear gas to disperse people.

Demonstrators chanted, "I can't brea," in reference to George Floyd, a black man in United States who died after a white police officer pressed his knee on his neck until he stopped breathing.

One recent victim was Joao Pedro Pinto, a 14 year old black boy, killed during a Federal Police operation in Complexo Salgueiro, a group of favelas.

Joao Pedro was at home with some of his cousins when officers inved his house, allegedly prosecuting drug traffickers, and shot him on May 18th.

Pinto was reported as missing, and his family was tified of his death next day.

Protesters called for an end to police operations inside favelas. y shouted names of some victims followed by word "present!"

Rio has one of most dely police in Brazil.

In 2019 y killed 1,546 people, highest number since 1998, and much of that was during police operations in favelas.