Dozens of children and teenagers from Rio de Janeiro’s Mare neighborhood have come together to launch a book that showcases the impact of violence in their community on their young lives. Titled “I Was Supposed to be at School,” the book features drawings and testimonies from youths aged 5 to 17, shedding light on how their daily routines are disrupted by police operations and clashes between authorities and local drug traffickers. The children often have to take shelter during these incidents, with many recalling instances of police invading their homes, disrupting their lives, and even firing at children.
The accounts in the book are based on the real experiences of the youngsters, collected in collaboration with the nonprofit organization Redes da Mare. The book was created by Isabel Malzoni, who emphasized the importance of maintaining the anonymity of the children involved to ensure their safety and the safety of their families. The project was born out of a surge of police raids in 2019, following the election of President Jair Bolsonaro and Governor Wilson Witzel, who vowed to give police more authority to use force against criminals. This led to numerous police operations in Mare, resulting in deaths, injuries, and prolonged disruptions to the children’s education.
In 2023, the year President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Governor Cláudio Castro assumed office, the number of police operations in Mare decreased slightly, but the toll on the community remained significant. The Rio state police have maintained that their operations in favelas like Mare are aimed at combating criminal activity, but the collateral damage often affects innocent residents, including children. Despite the challenges they face, the book also contains messages of hope from the children, with one child expressing a desire for peace and the opportunity to attend school without fear.
The release of the book sheds light on the ongoing struggle of residents in Mare, a densely populated favela where violence and police operations have become a common occurrence. The testimonies and drawings from the children offer a poignant reminder of the impact of this environment on their everyday lives, emphasizing the need for solutions to address the root causes of violence in marginalized communities. By amplifying the voices of these young residents, the book serves as a powerful advocacy tool to raise awareness about the challenges they face and advocate for change that prioritizes the safety and well-being of the most vulnerable members of society.
