Just after midnight, in the early morning of July 23, 1993, a group of men later identified as off-duty policemen opened fire on a group of street children sleeping rough outside one of Rio de Janeiro s most prominent landmarksthe Church of Our Lady of the Candelaria. The incident became known as the Candelaria Massacre and it roused the people of Riothe Cariocasand took them to the streets in protest. Shortly before the shootings at the church the policemen picked up three boys returning to Candelaria from the beach and ...
Read More
Just after midnight, in the early morning of July 23, 1993, a group of men later identified as off-duty policemen opened fire on a group of street children sleeping rough outside one of Rio de Janeiro s most prominent landmarksthe Church of Our Lady of the Candelaria. The incident became known as the Candelaria Massacre and it roused the people of Riothe Cariocasand took them to the streets in protest. Shortly before the shootings at the church the policemen picked up three boys returning to Candelaria from the beach and took them off in their car to be shot elsewhere. Shot and left for dead, one of them survived. His survival altered the political landscape. His name is Wagner dos Santos. This is his story. Wagner Santos s intensely tragic, involving, and fascinating personal history is also a glimpse into the dark complexities and cultural landscape of Rio de Janeiro, one of the most beautiful and vibrantcities in the world."
Read Less