Political Violence in Rio de Janeiro Intensifies with Hate Motivations and Organized Crime Influence
Political violence in Rio de Janeiro is increasing, driven by hate motives, organized crime, and gender-based attacks, with electoral periods showing spikes in violence.
- • One-third of political violence cases in Rio de Janeiro are motivated by hate, including racism and misogyny.
- • Organized crime groups like militias and drug traffickers are involved in many political violence incidents.
- • The number of attacks against Black individuals doubled between 2022 and 2024.
- • The TSE upheld a conviction for gender-based political violence, emphasizing protections for women and trans women in politics.
Key details
Between January 2022 and June 2025, the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro has experienced a sharp rise in political violence, with one-third of cases motivated by hate, including racism, misogyny, homophobia, and transphobia. According to a study by the Observatório das Favelas, which recorded 267 incidents, 89 were identified as hate-driven. The number of violent attacks against Black individuals doubled from 17 to 30 cases between 2022 and 2024, aligning with the increase in Black political candidacies. Violence peaked during electoral periods, with an assassination occurring roughly every 22.5 days compared to one every 75.6 days in other times.
Research from Observatório de Favelas, alongside UERJ and UFF, highlighted the involvement of militias and drug trafficking organizations in 29 political violence cases over the past four years. Notably, the assassination of former councilman Jerônimo Guimarães Filho, a militia co-founder, in August 2022 linked to rival criminal factions exemplifies the deep involvement of organized crime in political conflicts. Political figures and police officers were frequently cited as aggressors, with 59 and 58 cases respectively, reinforcing concerns about institutional fragility and complicity.
In addition to ethnic and ideological hate crimes, gender-based political violence continues to plague the political landscape. The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) recently upheld the conviction of state deputy Rodrigo Amorim for gender-based political violence against Niterói councilor Benny Briolly, a trans woman. Amorim’s use of discriminatory language in a 2022 speech led to a sentence of one year and four months, converted into fines and restrictive measures, reaffirming that parliamentary immunity does not shield offensive conduct. This ruling aims to protect women's political rights, including those of trans women, emphasizing equality and human dignity.
These trends underline a precarious political environment in Rio de Janeiro, exacerbated by the rise of the extreme right and increasing criminal group influence, particularly during electoral periods. Experts call for stronger judicial oversight and measures to prevent politically motivated violence, which threatens democratic processes and the safety of vulnerable groups in politics.